Exercise Imminent Field 26 took place from 18-22/5 on Highway 2, a section running through the northwestern area of Forssa town in southern Finland. The exercise included Italy's F-35B stealth fighter, alongside F/A-18D MLU2 combat aircraft, Hawk trainer jets, and Learjet 35A/S transport aircraft from the Finnish Air Force.

The annual Imminent Field exercise, previously known as Baana, is a Finnish Air Force training activity. Its purpose is to maintain combat readiness by dispersing aircraft to locations away from fixed bases. This training is a crucial part of the curriculum for all Finnish pilots.

Italy's F-35B fighter jet landing on the highway on 19/5. Photo: Finnish Air Force.

This event marks the first participation of an F-35B variant, following F-35A fighter jets from Norway and the US in the 2023-2024 period. Organizers selected Italy's F-35B due to its short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities and because these aircraft are currently stationed at the Finnish Air Force's Pirkkala Air Base.

Landing and taking off on highways is a highly advantageous skill during conflicts. Military airfields are easily targeted and destroyed first by adversaries. Defense forces can disperse aircraft to secret locations and launch counterattacks from highways, surprising the enemy.

During the Cold War, member states of NATO and the Warsaw Pact regularly practiced this tactic.

Italy's F-35B fighter jet on a Finnish highway on 19/5. Photo: Finnish Air Force.

The F-35B is a variant developed for the US Marine Corps, notable for its STOVL capability. This allows it to operate from amphibious assault ships with smaller flight decks than conventional aircraft carriers. However, the bulky STOVL system gives the F-35B inferior range and maneuverability compared to the Air Force's F-35A and the Navy's F-35C variants.

Beyond the US Marine Corps, several of Washington's allies have also ordered and are operating the F-35B.

Nguyen Tien (According to AFP, AP, Aviationist)