Finland’s integration into NATO’s air command structure continues to deepen, with the Finnish Air Force confirming that a NATO E-3A Sentry airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft conducted a mission in Finnish airspace for the first time.
The Finnish Air Force said the sortie involved joint flight operations between Finnish F/A-18 Hornet fighters and the NATO E-3A Sentry airborne early-warning platform. The mission marked the first time the NATO-operated aircraft had flown a task over Finland since the country joined the alliance in 2023.
According to the Finnish Air Force, the activity aimed to strengthen cooperation between national air-defense forces and NATO assets. Joint operations with allied platforms such as the E-3A provide “significant added value” to Finland’s national air surveillance and air-defense network, which is coordinated by the country’s Air Operations Centre.
NATO’s ‘eyes in the sky’
Airborne early-warning aircraft such as the E-3A Sentry play a central role in NATO air operations. Equipped with a large rotating radar dome capable of detecting aircraft and other aerial threats over long distances, the platform functions as a flying command post able to coordinate fighter aircraft, track targets, and support air-defense missions across wide areas.
The aircraft type, however, is approaching the end of its service life. NATO’s E-3A fleet, which entered service in the early 1980s, is expected to retire around 2035. The alliance initially selected the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail as its successor in 2023 under the Allied Future Surveillance and Control (AFSC) initiative, with plans to acquire six aircraft.
That procurement effort collapsed in 2025 after the United States withdrew from the consortium supporting the purchase, removing the strategic and financial foundation of the program. NATO officials have since said the replacement effort remains ongoing as allies explore alternative solutions for the next generation of airborne surveillance and battle-management capabilities.
First Finnish crew member on NATO E-3A
This mission marked a key step for Finland’s personnel in NATO operations, highlighting the country’s growing role in NATO’s combined air and missile defense system since joining the alliance.
On board the aircraft was Master Sergeant Aleksi Härkönen, the first Finnish crew member assigned to the NATO E-3A fleet. Härkönen serves as a weapons controller, responsible for monitoring the air picture and directing fighter aircraft during operations.
“Everything went very smoothly, and I consider this a good baseline for planning future activities,” Härkönen said after the sortie.
Strengthening NATO’s northern air defense
The AWACS mission comes as NATO expands its military activity in the Nordic and Arctic regions following the accession of Finland and Sweden, which has strengthened the alliance’s posture across the High North.
NATO has recently launched initiatives such as “Arctic Sentry,” designed to increase surveillance and operational coordination across the region as strategic competition intensifies and Russian military activity remains a key concern.
For Finland, whose air force is responsible for monitoring and defending national airspace, cooperation with NATO surveillance assets enhances situational awareness and supports the integration of allied air operations in northern Europe.