Typhoon fighters took off from a regular road for the first time

RAF pilots try different ways to avoid attack. Photo: Royal Air Force

Typhoon fighters landed and took off from a conventional aircraft. road for the first time, proving that the British Air Force can outwit the enemy at any time.

Two advanced Royal Air Force aircraft took off from a single-lane road in Tervo, Finland. It is usually used for normal road traffic, but is specifically designed as an emergency runway to keep aircraft active if necessary.

The Royal Air Force is concentrating on ways to outwit the enemy, survive an attack, disperse to remote locations and and continue to operate with minimal support.

During the Cold War, the RAF operated from unusual locations, such as roads and fields, to make it more difficult for the enemy to detect its aircraft.

Defense sources explained that such exercises were carried out due to Russian aggression. in Eastern Europe.

This “reminded the West of the need to spread out our aircraft and be more unpredictable,” they said.

During the Cold War, the RAF took off from roads and fields. Photo: RAF

This is the first time the RAF has taken part in Exercise Baana, the Finnish Air Force's annual exercise which is now part of its regular flying training. . The Norwegian Air Force also took part for the first time.

The officer in command of Test and Evaluation Squadron 41 was one of two pilots to take part.

He said: “This is an opportunity to work with one of our new NATO partners on a flexible warfare exercise. The Finns have worked diligently for decades on scattered operations in case of attack and the need to disperse their aircraft.

“As soon as we landed on the runway we stopped to refuel before taking off again, I couldn’t help but take off. look around and think: “I’m sitting on a plane on a road in the middle of a forest in Finland.” It was pretty crazy and definitely a first.”

A small number of Royal Air Force personnel were on the ground to refuel and maintain the aircraft to ensure they could continue flying.

Co-pilot Jim said: “This is a big step forward for the RAF Typhoon's capabilities. We often talk about capabilities being what we fly with, like weapons and sensors.

“Modern Threats”

“What's great about this is that it's a new way to use an airplane improving our survivability against modern threats and operating from dispersed locations, and doing so in close collaboration with our allies who are critical to future operations.»

The RAF Typhoons were operating during these trials from Rissala Air Base and Tervo Road Base. .

Defence sources added that they provide an opportunity to expand combat knowledge and practice of emergency runways and dispersed operations.

They added that the UK and Finland maintain close defense ties relationship as NATO and Joint Expeditionary Force allies, and often train and deploy together in exercises around the world.

Finnish troops also work side by side with the British armed forces, training Ukrainian recruits in the UK.