Virginia Air Guard pilots train with Finnish F-35 pilots in Fort Smith
(left) Two Finnish F-35 fighter jets fly with two F-22 (at right) jets with the Virginia Air National Guard. (photo courtesy of the 188th Wing)
It’s a bit louder in and around Fort Smith thanks to two F-22 fighter jets (Raptors) from the Virginia Air National Guard’s 149th Fighter Squadron in town to train with F-35 fighters that belong to Finland. The training was set for June 16-17, according to the Air National Guard.
According to the 188th Wing, stationed at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, the F-22 fighters assigned to the 192nd Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., are participating in operations with the Finnish Air Force F-35 jets now based at Ebbing.
“The exercise focuses on sharpening air dominance tactics and strengthening combined readiness between U.S. and allied forces,” according to a 188th press release.
Ebbing was selected in March 2023 by the U.S. Air Force to be the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program pilot training center supporting F-35 fighter planes purchased by Singapore, Switzerland, Poland, Germany, Finland, and other countries participating in the program. The 85th Fighter Group is the unit in charge of the foreign pilot training center.
The base also will house and provide training support for Republic of Singapore F-16s. Singapore’s F-35 fighter jets are expected to arrive at Ebbing in late 2026, with the country’s F-16 fighters set to arrive in the summer of 2027, according to the latest USAF information. Up to 400 personnel are to be stationed in Fort Smith when all Singapore planes arrive.
According to the 188th, the Razorback Range, on Fort Chaffee property east of Ebbing, provides a unique training environment for foreign and U.S. pilots.
“The Razorback Range gives us unmatched flexibility for multi-aircraft training,” said 188th Wing Commander Col. Jonathan Esparza. “Its capabilities allow us to host complex, realistic scenarios that build interoperability and readiness for our U.S. and international partners.”
The range, according to the 188th, provides “surface-to-30,000 feet airspace” that allows pilots to train for “real-world readiness.” The range in 2025 had 424 aircraft sorties that included 644 inert munitions drops.
Also, the exercise supports the Virginia-Finland State Partnership Program that was established in 2024.
“The Virginia Air National Guard’s experienced pilots and maintainers are a vital asset to this nation’s air dominance around the globe,” said Maj. Gen. James Ring, the Adjutant General of Virginia. “Sharing their expertise with our Finnish partners through the State Partnership Program strengthens our shared capabilities, interoperability, readiness and lethality.”
Col. Tuukka Elonheimo, the chief of the Foreign Liaison Office of the Finnish F-35 program, praised the joint training opportunity, and community support of the broader pilot training mission at Ebbing.
“In the U.S., the Finnish Air Force personnel not only learn to operate the F-35, but they and the Americans also learn more from and about each other day by day,” said Elonheimo. “We are truly honored by how warmly the Ebbing ANGB, the local community, and now Virginia ANG – with its F-22 salute – have welcomed and are supporting our presence in the U.S.”