The Finnish government has picked the F-35 as the replacement for the country’s F-18 Hornet fleet, known as the HX program, according to a Ministry of Defense statement.
The decision settles one of the last remaining lucrative fighter competitions in Europe, with Lockheed Martin’s offering once again coming out on top. In June, the Swiss also picked the plane, marketed by Lockheed as a stealthy plane with novel sensor-fusion capabilities.
The Finns have budgeted a maximum of 10 billion euros for the HX program, or roughly $11.3 billion. The cost for 64 F-35 A Block 4 planes is estimated at 4.7 billion euros, while a stash of AMRAAM and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles will come in at 755 million euros and a maintenance services package through 2030 will cost 2.9 billion euros.
Lockheed’s plane beat out four other competitors: Boeing’s F-18 Super Hornet, Dassault’s Rafale, the Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab’s Gripen. The evaluation process saw the F-35 “pass” the selection criteria of security of supply and industrial participation and affordability, according to the MOD statement. It also scored highest in the military capability area.