European airforces participate in multinational exercise ADEX 08
Around 1,300 other personnel and over 50 aircraft from major European NATO countries are attending the Finnish Air Defence Exercise 2008 (ADEX 08), part of the Partnership for Peace programme. The exercise provides sophisticated training for both ground and aircrews.
Partnership for Peace (PfP) is a programme of practical bilateral cooperation between individual partner countries and NATO which aims to increase stability, diminish threats to peace and build strengthened security relationships. There are currently 24 countries in the PfP programme.
ADEX 08 is the largest ever exercise held in Finland with the UK, Denmark, Germany and France taking part. With each nation bringing different aircraft, ADEX 08 presents ample chance for aircrew to train against various aircraft types in combat scenarios.
It also provides opportunities to exchange ideas, experiences and tactics in an air-to-air environment and enhances skills used on operations.
Faced with a myriad of languages, all flying throughout ADEX 08 uses English for communications. It is the standardised language of military aviation with Command and Control using multi-national and NATO procedures to ensure safety and cooperation.