NATO’s early warning aircraft, the E-3A Sentry, carried out missions in Finnish airspace as part of surveillance operations linked to the border with Russia and the reinforcement of the allied presence on the eastern flank. The operation was carried out by an aircraft from NATO’s Airborne Early Warning and Control System (AWACS), which conducted its first operational flight in Finnish territory following the Nordic country’s accession to the Alliance.
The mission took place on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, and consisted of cooperative patrols carried out together with the Finnish Air Force (Ilmavoimat). During the activity, eight Finnish F/A-18 fighters participated in a four-against-four air exercise, while the E-3A Sentry fulfilled the role of airborne battle space management and supervision of aerial activity in the region.
The flight was coordinated by the Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFCNF) with the objective of guaranteeing integration between international military assets and the Finnish civil air traffic control authorities. The aircraft operated under the tasking and control of Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), maintaining direct coordination with the Finnish Control and Reporting Centre located in Rovaniemi and with the Air Operations Centre located in Jyväskylä.
These missions are conducted within the framework of the Eastern Sentry and Arctic Sentry activities, initiatives aimed at reinforcing the Alliance’s air surveillance and command-and-control capabilities in northern Europe. Through their long-range radars, AWACS aircraft provide continuous monitoring of the airspace and facilitate the coordination of joint operations between allied forces.
Air Commodore Andy Turk, Chief of Staff of NATO’s Airborne Early Warning Force, stated that “operating in Finnish airspace for the first time demonstrates our collective commitment to security in the High North.” He also affirmed that “the flexibility of our AWACS fleet is possible thanks to the established procedures and the close contacts we share with our Finnish allies. We are truly stronger together.”
According to NATO, the establishment of clear communication channels and shared procedures makes it possible to improve the coordination required for complex air operations. This type of integration facilitates the Alliance’s ability to respond quickly to changes in the security environment, while at the same time maintaining high standards of safety and precision in the use of shared airspace.
For his part, Major General Arnfinn Frode Kristoffersen, Deputy Chief of Operations of Joint Force Command Norfolk (JFCNF), stated: “We have successfully coordinated NATO’s first AWACS mission in Finnish airspace under Arctic Sentry.” He also added that “this demonstrates how quickly the Alliance can integrate new allies into its operational framework.”
The E-3A AWACS aircraft continue to be a central component of NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence system. Although it has not yet been confirmed which aircraft will replace it in the future, its great capability to conduct long-duration missions and provide long-range radar surveillance must be recognized, as it allows allied commanders to have a continuous picture of the air situation on the eastern flank and in the European High North.
*Cover image obtained from the Finnish Armed Forces.
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