Lapland Air Command

The flag of the Lapland Air Command

The Lapland Air Command (Finnish: Lapin Lennosto, abbr. LapLsto; Swedish: Lapplands flygflottilj) is the peace-time Finnish Air Force unit responsible for the protection of the airspace of northern Finland. The headquarters of the air command is located in the present-day province of Lapland, at Rovaniemi Airport.

The Lapland Air Command was founded in 1973, when the Tavastia Air Command was moved to Rovaniemi. The unit was officially renamed into the Lapland Air Commandon in 1974. It was equipped with Saab Draken fighters. The wing was established due to the increased importance of airspace in Cold War Europe. The Soviet Navy had large installations on the Kola peninsula, while NATO had a large number of aircraft in northern Norway. Both sides often held large wargames nearby.

In the early 2000s, the wing was equipped with F-18 Hornet fighters, the first were received in January 1999, and operative readiness was obtained in 2000. At the same time, all Drakens were retired.

The Wing's main duty is to guard and defend the air space, as well as to support the land forces. The wing trains conscripts for aerial surveillance, and for general service and support for the fighter flights. The Lapland Air Defence Battallion is also located at the base.

The 11th Fighter Squadron is the operational unit of the Lapland Air Command.

Organization

Headquarters Flight

1st Flight

Fighter flight, equipped with F-18C/Ds and also trains mechanics

2nd Flight

Fighter flight, equipped with F-18C/Ds and trains pilots

4th Flight

Liaison flight, equipped with Valmet Vinka, PA-31-350 Chieftain, Valmet L-90TP Redigo aircraft

External links

• Lapland Air Command

Finnish Air Force
Flying regiments (historical)	Flying Regiment 1 Flying Regiment 2 Flying Regiment 3 Flying Regiment 4 Flying Regiment 5 Flying Regiment 19
Squadrons	No. 1 Sqn No. 4 Sqn No. 6 Sqn No. 10 Sqn No. 11 Sqn No. 12 Sqn No. 13 Sqn No. 14 Sqn No. 15 Sqn No. 16 Sqn No. 17 Sqn No. 20 Sqn No. 21 Sqn No. 22 Sqn No. 24 Sqn No. 25 Sqn No. 26 Sqn No. 28 Sqn No. 29 Sqn No. 30 Sqn No. 31 Sqn No. 32 Sqn No. 33 Sqn No. 34 Sqn No. 35 Sqn No. 36 Sqn No. 38 Sqn No. 39 Sqn No. 40 Sqn No. 41 Sqn No. 42 Sqn No. 43 Sqn No. 44 Sqn No. 45 Sqn No. 46 Sqn No. 48 Sqn Flight Depot 1 Flight Depot 2 Test Flight Sqn Test Sqn
Current headquarters	Air Force Headquarters
Current wings	Karelian Air Command Lapland Air Command Satakunta Air Command
Current schools	Air Force Academy Training Air Wing Aircraft and Weapon Systems Training Wing
Current direct reporting units	C4IS Material Command Air Material Command Finnish Intelligence Research Establishment