Finland Conducts Large-Scale Drills to Build Rapid Fortifications for Air Force

The Finnish Air Force has conducted large-scale exercises focused on the rapid construction of fortifications to support aviation operations in crisis scenarios, the service announced.

The drills, held at all major Air Force bases as well as several reserve and temporary airfields, tested the capability of engineering units to quickly erect protective structures in the event of conflict or heightened threat levels.

Key emphasis was placed on the construction of durable concrete shelters and rapidly deployable sandbag fortifications designed to protect personnel and aircraft from shelling or airstrikes.

Several of the structures were built specifically to shield ground crews, including engineering and maintenance teams, operating close to the front line.

“These Air Wall 25 exercises were among the most significant in the postwar history of the Air Force’s engineering unit,” said Major Joni Pirinen, head of the engineering department of the Finnish Air Force.

The exercise involved dozens of active-duty service members, reservists, and between 200 and 300 employees from construction firms working in partnership with the Finnish Defence Forces.

Construction was carried out by both official Ministry of Defence contractors and local subcontractors.

Pirinen said the joint effort had demonstrated “a high level of coordination and efficiency” and had marked the first time the entire chain of participants involved in airbase infrastructure preparation had been engaged in such drills. “Importantly, we did not find a single weak link,” he noted.

Beyond technical construction capabilities, the exercise tested logistics, coordination, and adaptability under simulated conflict conditions.

Particular attention was paid to civil-military cooperation, seen as critical for mobilizing industrial and technical capacity during large-scale emergencies.

The exercises helped validate existing engineering solutions and generated new insights for improving defense infrastructure and safeguarding key military facilities.

Finland is scheduled to receive 64 F-35A Block 4 multi-role fighters between 2025 and 2030.