Finnish Hornets To Be Replaced By Gripen Or Rafale

Finland is looking to replace 55 McDonnell Douglas (Boeing) F/A-18C Hornet single-seat and 7 F/A-18D two-seat multirole fighters with SAAB JAS 39E/F Gripen or French Dassault Rafale.

Helsinki and Stockholm have agreed to increased cooperation between their defence organisations. The combined Finnish-Swedish combat jet fleet with the same type of aircraft would be more convenient in case both the nations choose to act together in their defence against enemies, AIRheadsFLY reported Monday.

Apart from a military tactical perspective, even from a logistical perspective, any battle is easily lost with a failing flow of spare parts.

The Swedish Gripen is currently undergoing an upgrade. The new Gripen will be the one that the Brazilian Air Force (36 or more) is buying and that the Swedish Air Force (60 or more) has ordered.

Finland has requested and received classified documents on the capabilities of the Gripen. This has now confirmed by sources within both the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and within the Stockholm government.

Just before Easter, the Finnish Chief of Defence went along for a French Air Force training mission in the backseat of a Dassault Rafale B, flying in formation with at least one other Rafale after take-off from St. Dizier Airbase in France.