After launching an international call for tenders, Finland announced this Friday that it had retained the American F-35 fighter, built by Lockheed Martin, to modernize its fleet made up of around sixty F18s, also American.
Helsinki orders 64 aircraft for 8.4 billion euros.
This decision caused a shock in Europe, a few months after that of Switzerland to also opt for the F-35.
Finland, a European country, which shares 1,300 km of borders with Russia, is not a member of NATO, but has forged a close partnership with the Atlantic alliance.
However, the country has ruled out all the European planes in the running: the Rafale built by Dassault Aviation *, the Airbus Eurofighter as well as the Gripen of the Swedish company Saab.
Boeing's F 18 SuperHornet was also ruled out.
Regret about "
an American preference in Europe
"
"
The F-35 has met the requirements in terms of preparation, industrial cooperation and cost,
" explained Antti Kaikkonen, the Finnish defense minister. The government is forecasting maintenance and upgrade costs for its new planes estimated at 10 billion euros over the entire operational lifespan, ie until 2060. According to several analysts, this budget is clearly underestimated.
In a brief press release, Dassault Aviation "
takes note of the sovereign decision of the Finnish authorities
". "
Once again, we note and regret an American preference in Europe
", adds the French manufacturer. The latter indicates continuing, with its partners, Thales and Safran as well as the 400 companies working on the Rafale program, "
the development of the operational capacities of the Rafale, at the service of France and of the countries which want to have in full sovereignty a first rank Air Force
”.
International sales of the Rafale have now reached 236 aircraft in six countries since 2015, the year of the first order placed by Egypt.
In 2021, four countries - NATO member Greece and Croatia, as well as Egypt and the United Arab Emirates - bought the French fighter plane.
The UAE signed a firm order for 80 Rafale last week.
Thanks to these orders, in particular the contract with the UAE, the largest ever signed by France and by Dassault Aviation, French arms exports should cross the historic milestone of 30 billion euros in 2021 and 2022, specifies the Ministry of the Armed Forces
*
The Dassault group owns the Figaro