Tue, 12 May, 2015 12:31:56 AM FTimes – STT Report, May 12  File Photo – Lehtikuva. The incoming government has to deliberate on defence force’s substantial procurement including a settlement on an approximately one billion euro 2020 fleet project planned to replace seven aging war vessels.
Furthermore, an expensive and multifaceted settlement has to be made on the Air Force since the Hornet fighter jets are expected to become obsolete in the period 2025-2030.
Former Air Force Commander, Major General Lauri Puranen will be leading a steering group which will present an initial feasibility study to the incoming government.
"The project to replace the Hornet fleet should be initiated within this year so that we keep the schedule," Puranen told news agency STT.
According to Puranen, the official procurement should be done in the beginning of 2020 in order to ensure the first replacement in 2025.
"The actual procurement will certainly not be made by the incoming government," Puranen said.
The former chair of the Parliamentary Defence Committee Jussi Niinistö told STT that the government programme may not directly specify each project.
"These will come in the security and defence policy report immediately in the beginning of the parliamentary term. In the government programme, it may be only sufficient to mention that a report be drafted to look into the matter," Niinistö said.
Perussuomalaiset (Finns Party) will accept the inclusion of the projects directly in the government project.
Seppo Kääriäinen, the former deputy chair of the Parliamentary Defence Committee and former defence minister has long held the same line.
According to Kääriäinen, in case a major procurement entry is made in the government programme, a general statement is enough to ensure the Air force and Navy capabilities and the continuation of the preparation of the procurement.
Puranen's steering committee, however, would not take a position on the costs of the Hornet replacement, the number of new aircraft or type of aircrafts to replace.
According to other estimates, the costs will range between five and ten billion euros.
Niinistö appraise the cost to be in the middle of the estimated cost.
The financing of both projects should be arranged outside the defence budget appropriations.
On his part, Puranen has not ruled out any option. In practice, modern fighter jets could be bought from the United States, Sweden, China and Russia.
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