Prime, Norwegian F-35A Fighter Jet Landing On Finnish Highway

F-35 Norwegian landed on the Finnish highway. (Source: Ole Andreas Vekve/Norwegian Armed Forces)

JAKARTA - Two Norwegian F-35A fighter jets landed on the main road, North Savo, Finland on Thursday, after undergoing training with the country's F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet, reports the Norwegian Armed Forces.

"The Air Force in Nordic countries has shown great initiative to increase Nordic cooperation and has made rapid progress," Norwegian Military Commander General Eirik Kristoffersen said.

"This landing is a very good example, and it shows that Nordic countries can soon operate together as a coordinated force," continued General Eirik Kristoffersen.

The landing of F-35A fighter jets on the highway has never happened before. However, some F-35B fighter jets belonging to the United States have made landings on the highway.

"This is a milestone, not only for the Norwegian Air Force, but also for Nordic countries and NATO. It shows our ability to implement the concept of deployment," said Norwegian Air Force Commander Major General total.

"Fight jets are vulnerable on land, so by being able to use small airfields, and now the highway, it will increase our survival ability in war," he said.

He said the straight and wide Finnish highway provided a basis for strengthening the concept of deploying fighter jets.

"In addition, this is also an interesting developmental demonstration that we have started in military-air cooperation in the Nordic region," he said.

Nordic air capability training and practice are regularly considered important. Last month, Norwegian, Finnish and Swedish fighter aircraft operated together during the Arctic Fighter Meet exercise, which took place from the Badminton Air Base in Central Norway. And this spring, a large-scale fighter jet exercise Arctic Challenge Exercise was held in Norway, Finland and Sweden. Both exercises were carried out within the framework of Nordic Defense Cooperation (NoRDEFCO).

Norwegian Defense Minister Bj Sarind Arild Gram (central) positively welcomed the increase in interaction between the Nordic air force.

"Nordik's future air defense will consist of more than 200 fighter aircraft, and it is very good that we are in the process of developing Nordic cooperation in military air operations," the Gram Minister said.

"With Finland entering NATO and Sweden becoming members immediately, Nordic countries have a special responsibility to develop and coordinate NATO prevention in the northern region," he said.

Finland, which joined NATO in April, has a border with Russia of 1,300 kilometers. Meanwhile, Norway is one of the founding members of NATO, as quoted by Reuters.

The Finnish military itself is reportedly planning to buy 64 units of F-35 fighter jets made by US company Lockheed Martin.