Finland to acquire 64 American F-35A Lightning II fighter jets
Another neighbor of Russia, Finland, has made an official decision to purchase American F-35A Lightning II fighters. The corresponding decision was published by the Finnish government.
We are talking about the acquisition of 64 Block 4 modification aircraft. The delivery of the first fighters, which will be used for training personnel, is expected in 2025. In 2028-2030, Finnish F/A-18C/D Hornet fighters should be completely replaced by the F-35A Lightning II.
The cost of the procurement program (together with the acquisition of missile weapons) is $ 10 billion. The contract involves the production of individual elements of the F-35A Lightning II in Finland.
Earlier, the fact that Finland chose the F-35A Lightning II in the tender for the replacement of the F/A-18C/D Hornet, with reference to sources, was reported by Iltalehti.
In September, in the presentation of the American corporation Lockheed Martin, presented at the 27th international exhibition MSPO 2021, it was told that in the current decade, 13 permanent air bases with 450 F-35 Lightning II aircraft are planned to be deployed in Europe. According to the map shown on the corresponding slide, there will be two air bases with such fighters in the UK, the Netherlands, Italy, Norway, Belgium and Poland, while there will be one in Denmark. Four of the 13 facilities have already been commissioned. The deadlines for the start of full-fledged work of the other eight air bases have been set. The final decision on the 13th object (near the Polish city of Svidvin) has not yet been made.
These plans did not take into account the purchase of aircraft by Switzerland and Finland.
