Decision time
14th July 2021
Feature
One of Europe’s most hotly contested fighter competitions has proceeded to the Best and Final Offer stage, with Finland having to balance cost, capability and local industry ahead of a decision by the end of 2021. Richard Thomas explores the programme and its participants
Finland is looking to begin replacing its F/A-18 C/D fighter fleet before the middle of the decade, with a decision as to which aircraft will replace it due before the end of the year
US DoD
With the final entries included for Finland’s landmark HX Fighter Programme – which will introduce a new combat air platform into service to replace the existing F/A-18 C/D Hornet fleet – industry will now revert to a waiting game ahead of a decision by the prospective customer in late-2021.