Finland Times

 

Finnish Air Force F / A-18 Hornet. File Photo – Str / Lehtikuva.

The Finnish Defence Forces have received a mandate from Defence Minister Jussi Niinistö to start the project to replace the operational capability of the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, said the Defence Min-istry in a release.

 

The F/A-18 Hornet aircraft are planned to be phased out as of 2025.

 

According to the Ministry, the decision to launch the HX fighter project is based on the government project.

 

The life-span of the Hornet fleet which will end by the end of the 2020s is limited by three main factors: weakening of relative capabilities, fatigue of structures and the availability of the aircraft’s systems, spare parts and software. To extend the life-span of the Hornet fleet would not be cost-effective and, from the perspective of Finland’s defence, a sufficient decision, said the Ministry in the release.

 

Due to developments in Finland’s operating environment and the tasks of the Defence Forces, the Air Force and air defence require that the capabilities provided by the Hornet fleet be replaced by the end of the 2020s.

 

The working group which was set up to assess the replacement of the Air Force F/A-18 aircraft proposed in June the procurement of multi-role.

 

The process of replacing the capabilities of Hornets will take about 15 year and the decision to act was based on the recommendation of the working group.

 

The decision on submitting requests for information and calls for tenders will be made during this parliamentary term while the actual procurement decision will have to be made in the early 2020s.