Aircraft
Finland Selects F-35 Fighter As Hornet Replacement
After an exhaustive and well-publicized evaluation, Finland has followed Switzerland in choosing Lockheed Martin's F-35 to replace its F/A-18s fighters.
A Finnish Hornet flies with an Italian air force F-35A during an exercise. (Finnish air force)
A Finnish Hornet flies with an Italian air force F-35A during an exercise. (Finnish air force)

The Finnish government today confirmed the selection of the Lockheed Martin F-35A Block 4 to answer the air force’s HX Hornet fighter replacement program on December 10. The announcement was made in a press conference presided over by Prime Minister Sanna Marin, following earlier leaks in the national press.

The F-35 was selected over the Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Saab Gripen E after an exhaustive evaluation, which included in-country demonstrations of the competing types in the HX Challenge. The government has now authorized the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command to sign a contract with the U.S. government. The deal covers 64 F-35As plus training, equipment, and sustainment/maintenance services until the end of 2030.

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