In an exclusive interview with the YLE TV1, the minister also said that the next two governments would be forced to be expensive to maintain a strong defence.
Haglund, however, admitted that the Hornets replacement with new machines is expensive and it would be a project of 6-7 billion euros.
On the other hand, the decision of current Hornets acquisition was made during the previous recession. “It was a forward-looking decision then and has proved to be correct,” said Haglund. “The Hornets were obtained from a separate appropriation at that time. The money was not taken from the defence budget. Such a procedure could be followed for buying new fighters,” said the minister.
A decision regarding new fighter acquisition should be made by 2019.
