Finnish and Swedish quick reaction alert (QRA) fighters identified a group of Russian military aircraft over the Gulf of Finland on September 24, 2026, in what the Finnish Defence Forces described as the first joint operational identification mission flown by the two air forces.
According to a Finnish Defence Forces release published on September 25, 2026, Finnish Air Force F/A-18 Hornets and Swedish Air Force JAS 39 Gripens were scrambled to intercept and identify a Russian formation flying in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland.
The formation consisted of a Tupolev Tu-134 transport aircraft, Mikoyan MiG-31 fighters and Sukhoi Su-30 fighters. The Finnish Air Force’s Air Operations Centre directed the mission.
Finnish and Swedish Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) fighter jets were scrambled to intercept and identify Russian military aircraft in international airspace over the Gulf of Finland on 24 September 2026.
— Ilmavoimat (@FinnishAirForce) September 25, 2026
This was the first joint 🇫🇮🇸🇪 operational identification mission. #ilmavoimat pic.twitter.com/wj4Uj0stNh
Sweden and Finland deepen joint QRA operations
The mission follows a decision, announced by the Finnish Defence Forces on August 28, 2026, to deepen cooperation with Sweden in protecting Finland’s territorial integrity.
Under the arrangement, Sweden contributes JAS 39 Gripen fighters and a Visby-class corvette in the Baltic Sea region. In particular, the Swedish assets are intended to strengthen air surveillance and free up Finnish resources to respond to potential airspace violations and other incidents. The cooperation is set to continue until at least the end of 2026.
“The deeper cooperation that began this autumn enables joint identification missions and allows QRA fighter jets to operate from the other country’s air bases,” Colonel Vesa Mäntylä, Deputy Chief of Staff at Air Force Command Finland, said.
According to the Finnish Defence Forces, alert fighters from both countries normally stand QRA duty at their national bases but may operate from the other country’s bases when necessary.
“This is what close cooperation looks like in practice,” Major General Jonas Wikman, Commander of the Swedish Air Force, said. “Built over years on trust and strong personal relationships, we can now operate seamlessly together – as air forces, as nations and as Allies.”
Finland reinforced surveillance amid drone concerns
The Finnish Defence Forces linked the reinforced cooperation to Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes against Russia, noting that individual drones had strayed into Finnish airspace and territory and that the attacks on Russia were not expected to end in the near future.
Finland has recorded several airspace incidents in 2026. Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) halted traffic for three hours on May 15, 2026, following a regional drone warning.
On August 21, 2026, the Finnish Border Guard declared that a Russian Il-20 reconnaissance aircraft had flown nearly nine kilometers (about 5.6 miles) into Finnish airspace south of Utö the previous day.
Nordic air forces deepen integration
Finnish and Swedish fighters have flown Cross Border Training sorties almost weekly for several years, but their military integration has accelerated since both countries joined NATO. Finland became a member on April 4, 2023, followed by Sweden on March 7, 2024.
The two air forces also cooperate with Norway and Denmark through Nordic Air Power and coordinate operations in the Baltic Sea region with NATO Baltic Air Policing detachments.