World · Europe · 9 hrs ago
Swiss Air Force trains F/A-18 pilots in northern England
The Swiss Air Force has sent up to 10 F/A-18 jets to RAF Leeming in northern England for training from 9 November to 4 December.
Pilots will practise night-time air policing and air defence, including flying in darkness.
Training in Switzerland is limited by its geography, restricted airspace and other operational conditions.
Swiss pilots can therefore complete about half as many night-flight hours at home as pilots in neighbouring countries.
Leeming offers more room over the North Sea and sparsely populated areas for realistic flights at different speeds and heights.
The exercise also builds cooperation with the UK's Royal Air Force under a renewed five-year agreement between the two countries.
The training is due to continue until 4 December.
The Swiss Air Force is training F/A-18 pilots at the British air base in Leeming from November 9 to December 4, 2026.
Up to 10 fighter jets are taking part in the training.
The pilots are practising night-time air policing and air defence in darkness.
The exercise also includes joint training with the British Royal Air Force.
Switzerland says limited airspace and other operational conditions restrict night and low-level flight training at home.
- Who
- Swiss Air Force F/A-18 pilots, with the British Royal Air Force taking part in joint training.
- What
- Training in night-time air policing and air defence in darkness.
- When
- November 9 to December 4, 2026.
- Where
- RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire, northern England.
- Why
- Switzerland has limited opportunities for night and low-level flight training because of its geography, restricted airspace and other operational conditions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Swiss Air Force began training at RAF Leeming.
The training is scheduled to end.
- Aircraft
- Up to 10 F/A-18 fighter jets
- Training location
- RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire
- Training dates
- November 9–December 4, 2026
- Joint training partner
- British Royal Air Force
- Agreement
- A five-year Switzerland–United Kingdom agreement was renewed in 2026
What people are saying
Extensive training areas over the North Sea and sparsely populated areas enable realistic flight maneuvers at high speeds and different altitudes.