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Finland - F-35A

Iltalehti received confirmation 05 December 2021 from several sources that the Defense Forces will present the US F35 fighter jet to the Ministry of Defense as the new fighter of the Finnish Air Force. Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said in Helsingin Sanomat on 04 December 2021 that the decision on Finland's fighter acquisitions will be made before Christmas. "At this stage, various checks and verifications are still being made, making sure that everything is in place. I believe that in the near future we can expect the Defense Forces' presentation to arrive at the Ministry of Defense", Kaikkonen told Helsingin Sanomat.

Procurement of the fighter proceeded by the Ministry of Defense submitting a proposal to the Government, which will decide the matter. The decision is ultimately a political one. The choice is not only about the equipment, but also about a kind of defense alliance with its supply chains, military exercises and information exchange.

Opponents of the fighter deal said that Finland is acquiring the ability to attack at the same time. And that multi-purpose fighters would not be used in war for anything other than assaulting against ground targets. Therefore, Finland should acquire a massive amount of anti-aircraft missiles and a number of unmanned aerial vehicles, drones, with the same money - EUR 10 billion. Multi-purpose fighters have weapons that can destroy land and sea targets tens and hundreds of miles away. The current Hornets of Finland already have this performance.

In addition to the F-35, there had been five options for Finland's new fighter: Saab Gripen from Sweden, Boeing Super Hornet from the United States, Eurofighter Typhoon from Europe and Dassault Rafale from France. Two of the manufacturers offered attractive add-ons. In addition to the Gripen E multi-purpose fighters, Saab offers two radar surveillance and combat control aircraft. Boeing offered 50 Super Hornet fighters and 14 Growler aircraft specializing in electronic warfare, as well as the opportunity to participate in a program to develop unmanned aerial vehicles alongside fighters.

Through the current Hornets, Finland is still part of a US-led air defense group. Such non-military alliances are particularly important for a country like Finland, which is a military alliance outside NATO - albeit in an “evolving partnership” with NATO, just as Sweden. Saab Gripen E's victory in the tender would be a major boost for the Swedish aerospace and arms industry. Defense co-operation between Finland and Sweden would be further intensified. A victory for Boeing or Lockheed Martin would please Washington and keep Finland and the United States close. The choice of Eurofighter or Rafale would direct defense policy and armaments cooperation to major European NATO countries.

The scale turned to the F-35 due to the performance and long service life of the F-35. The F-35s would be in use for well over 40 years. According to Iltalehti, the Finnish Defense Forces bases its presentation on, among other things, the performance of the F-35 and the known long life cycle of the machine. In addition, the annual operating costs of the F-35 would fit within the framework set by the tender. According to the framework, operating costs should not exceed EUR 250 million, so as not to exceed 10% of the Defense Forces' peacetime budget. Choosing the F-35A would take Finland perhaps closest to NATO and the United States. The planes could easily network and work with the Norwegian F-35 squadrons.

The F-35 Lightning II, built by Lockheed Martin, is the world’s premiere 5th Generation multirole stealth fighter, designed to defend against current and emerging threats. With a combination of stealth, sensor fusion and unmatched situational awareness, the F-35 can ensure Finland’s homeland security for decades to come. When it comes to deterring threats, the F-35 has the unmatched capability to secure the Finnish airspace. Its stealth capabilities are unprecedented in tactical fighter aviation, allowing pilots to counter threats undetected, complete the mission at hand, and return the pilot home to safety. An integrated airframe design, advanced materials and other specialized design features give the F-35 a significant advantage over 4th Generation aircraft in Finland’s unique operating conditions.

In the scope of HX Program, Security of Supply (SoS) stands for sovereign capability for undisturbed sustainment of the HX weapon system in time of crisis. This capability is attained and maintained at all organizational levels in peacetime. At the national level, SoS is guaranteed by establishing critical and supporting maintenance capabilities in Finland and by quantifying the necessary level of materiel stock in country. Technological know-how and a capability to make airworthiness decisions independently are paramount for attaining the required level of SoS. This also ensures sufficient amount of skilled personnel for dispersed operations in time of crisis.

International cooperation is essential facing today’s ever-evolving global threats. The F-35 strengthens all branches of armed forces and enables better defense cooperation. It makes the Finnish Defense Forces a part of an international community of F-35 operators, which already includes countries like Denmark and Norway, that further enhances interoperability using the world’s most advanced and survivable technology.

Lockheed Martin is working actively with the Finnish defense industry to expand opportunities for industrial participation and plays a key role in ensuring Finland’s security of supply. Finland’s participation in the F-35 program would offer Finnish defense industry companies plenty of opportunities for next-generation industrial cooperation.