On May 31, 2024, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen announced the acquisition of additional Lockheed Martin AGM-158B JASSM-ER (Joint Air-to-Surface Stand-off Missile – Extended Range). Helsinki already uses the “A” variant of the missile (AGM-158A JASSM), which is carried by the Finnish Air Force’s fleet of Boeing FA-18C/D Hornet aircraft.
The announcement of the JASSM-ER acquisition comes four years after the U.S. government approved its sale to Finland. This was part of a broader package aimed at supporting the F-35A’s bid in the Finnish Air Force’s HX program, intended to replace its aging Hornets.
While the JASSM can reach 370 km, the JASSM-ER can cover distances of nearly 1,000 km thanks to the addition of a new dual-mode turbofan engine and additional fuel. The newly ordered JASSM-ER will be intended for use with the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II. The Finnish government selected the F-35A on December 10, 2021, after the conclusion of the HX program. It is expected to receive 64 of these jets. According to Defense News, the first batch of ordered F-35s is expected to be delivered and then deployed to the Arctic air bases in the Finnish Lapland region by 2026.