# NATO Holds Ramstein Flag 26 with Finland as Northern Hub

- Source: Nordic Defence Sector (https://nordicdefencesector.com)
- Canonical URL: https://nordicdefencesector.com/en/article/nato-holds-ramstein-flag-26-with-finland-as-northern-hub
- Published: 2026-06-12 · Updated: 2026-06-17
- Author: Jacob Wollheim
- Type: News · Section: Air · Country: finland
- Language: en — machine translation from sv; the sv version is authoritative: https://nordicdefencesector.com/sv/article/nato-holds-ramstein-flag-26-with-finland-as-northern-hub.md
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- Primary source: https://ac.nato.int/ramstein-flag/news/news/nato-isr-force-supports-ramstein-flag-26-from-finland
- Tags: nato, ramstein flag 26, finnish air force, försvarsmakten, norwegian armed forces, royal danish air force, f/a-18 hornet, f-35, eurofighter, tornado, e-3a awacs, rq-4d phoenix, enhanced vigilance activity, agile combat employment

> NATO is conducting the exercise Ramstein Flag 26 from 8 to 19 June, with Finland serving as the northern base. 18 nations and more than 200 aircraft are participating.

![Norwegian F-35s over Poland](https://imagedelivery.net/XO8UY-c6-LfWgEjQsN8IQw/63cd9edc-64c9-47ad-f31c-9ab01d03a400/public)
*Norwegian F-35s over Poland · Ole Andreas Vekve / Forsvaret*

**NATO's major exercise Ramstein Flag 2026 has commenced, bringing together 18 allied nations, over 200 aircraft, and more than 20 operational bases across Europe. The exercise runs from 8 to 19 June and extends from Finland in the north to Spain in the south.**

According to NATO Allied Air Command, the exercise aims to strengthen the alliance's ability to conduct complex air operations within the framework of collective defence under Article 5. Key focus areas include Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD), rapid information sharing, countering anti-access and area denial capabilities (C-A2AD), and Agile Combat Employment (ACE), whereby air units can be rapidly dispersed and redeployed.

In total, more than 150 sorties are expected to be conducted daily. In addition to combat aircraft, the exercise also involves transport aircraft, air-to-air refuelling assets, intelligence and reconnaissance platforms, as well as NATO's own E-3A AWACS and RQ-4D Phoenix.

The northern portion of the exercise is conducted jointly by Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Finland is participating with twelve F/A-18 Hornet aircraft and approximately 500 personnel, while also hosting more than 50 allied aircraft and around 1,300 foreign participants.

"Exercise Ramstein Flag 26 provides an excellent opportunity to plan and execute large-force multinational air operations and a wide variety of different mission types together with Allies," said Colonel Vesa Mäntylä, Deputy Chief of Staff at the Finnish Air Force Command, in a [press release](https://ilmavoimat.fi/-/naton-ramstein-flag-26-harjoitus-ulottuu-suomesta-espanjaan?languageId=en_US).

In Finland, aircraft including German Tornado and Eurofighter jets as well as American F-35B aircraft are based at Rovaniemi (northern Finland). At Pirkkala (southern Finland), American F-35A aircraft and NATO's RQ-4D Phoenix are participating, while Spanish EF-18, Polish F-16, and M-346 aircraft are operating from Tikkakoski (central Finland). Finland's reserve road base at Tervo is also being used as part of NATO's ACE concept for dispersed basing.

According to NATO, Ramstein Flag is being conducted within the framework of the enhanced Vigilance Activity (eVA) Eastern Sentry and is intended to contribute to the alliance's deterrence and defence along the eastern flank.

![Information map of the exercise area for Ramstein Flag 26, stretching from northern Finland to southern Spain.](https://imagedelivery.net/XO8UY-c6-LfWgEjQsN8IQw/2f7d4401-ea62-4381-c8fa-3c47d4fb0200/public)
*Information map of the exercise area for Ramstein Flag 26, stretching from northern Finland to southern Spain.*

## FAQ

**Which aircraft types are based in Finland during Ramstein Flag 26?**

In Finland, German Tornado and Eurofighter aircraft as well as American F-35B are based at Rovaniemi. At Pirkkala, American F-35A and NATO's RQ-4D Phoenix operate, while Spanish EF-18, Polish F-16 and M-346 are located at Tikkakoski. In total, Finland receives more than 50 allied aircraft and approximately 1,300 foreign participants. Last fact-checked: 2026-06-12.

**What is the scale of Finland's own contribution to exercise Ramstein Flag 26?**

Finland contributes twelve F/A-18 Hornets and approximately 500 personnel to Ramstein Flag 26. The country simultaneously serves as the northern hub for the exercise and receives allied forces at several bases. The exercise is conducted jointly with Sweden, Norway and Denmark in the northern portion. Last fact-checked: 2026-06-12.

**What is the purpose of using the Finnish reserve road base at Tervo during the exercise?**

The reserve road base at Tervo is used as part of NATO's ACE concept, Agile Combat Employment, which aims to rapidly disperse and regroup air units. The concept is one of the exercise's main focus areas and increases resilience against attack. It contributes to the alliance's deterrence along the eastern flank within the framework of enhanced Vigilance Activity Eastern Sentry. Last fact-checked: 2026-06-12.

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