And in related news, Finland's Prime Minister is still smoking freakin' hot.
Posted on 12/14/2021 4:42:16 PM PST by WeaslesRippedMyFlesh
HELSINKI/WASHINGTON — Finland has chosen U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighters to replace aging F/A-18 combat jets and plans to order 64 planes with weapons systems in a $9.4 billion deal, the government said on Friday.
Lockheed Martin competed in a tender for the deal with Sweden’s Saab, U.S. rival Boeing, France’s Dassault and Britain’s BAE Systems.
The procurement from Lockheed, including weapons as well as service and maintenance until 2030, is estimated to cost 8.378 billion euros ($9.44 billion), the government said.
The construction of hangars and other equipment will add a further 777 million euros, and 824 million euros will be reserved for the final optimized weapons package and to control future contract amendments, it added.
“When comparing military performance, the F-35 best met our needs,” Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen told a news conference.
Military planemakers have been vying for the deal since late 2015, when the Finnish Defense Ministry began the search for a new jet to replace Finland’s old Hornet fighter bought in 1992 from McDonnell Douglas, now part of Boeing.
Finland is the 14th nation to opt for the F-35. It will begin phasing in the F-35 from 2027 onwards, said Air Force Commander Pasi Jokinen.
[Nordic defense ministers sign landmark security deal
The choice strengthens the small Nordic nation’s defense cooperation with its allies, most significantly the United States and Norway, said researcher Charly Salonius-Pasternak at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs.
“Finland and Norway already train together in the north so it will be a political decision to determine what intelligence is shared and when,” he told Reuters, referring to the potential for the jets to share data in real time.
Unlike Norway, Finland is not a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization but it has forged stronger ties with the organization in recent years and chosen military equipment compatible with NATO members.
In 2014 Finland and Sweden, which is also not a NATO member, signed an agreement to train together and allow NATO assistance in crisis situations.
“The F-35 will provide Finnish industries unique digital capabilities that leverage 5th generation engineering and manufacturing,” said Bridget Lauderdale, Lockheed Martin’s vice president and general manager of the F-35 program.
“The production work will continue for more than 20 years, and the F-35 sustainment work will continue into the 2070s,” Lauderdale said in a statement.
Rival jetmakers expressed their disappointment with Finland’s decision with Saab Chief Executive Micael Johansson saying he was somewhat surprised the F-35 had fallen within budget.
France’s Dassault said said the choice of a U.S. aircraft was regrettable.
“Once again, we notice and regret an American preference prevailing in Europe,” Dassault said in a statement.
Boeing said it still sees significant international interest in its F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler.
Sweden, a neighbor to Finland and home to Gripen maker Saab, said it regretted the outcome while also respecting the decision.
“Our excellent defense cooperation will of course continue. Finland will continue to be our closest security and defense policy partner,” Sweden’s Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
Reuters reported earlier on Friday that Lockheed Martin was set to win the contract.
Reporting by Essi Lehto in Helsinki, Mike Stone in Washington. Additional reporting by Johan Ahlander and Helena Soderpalm in Stockholm.
That pays for about 8 days of interest on the US debt.
Don't bother with the bribes and kickbacks either. All side sweeten their deals with incentives.
A moneymaking deal for Lockheed, from start to Finnish.
Sorry, couldn’t help it.
We’re not yet even breaking even on the development costs, but military hardware doesn’t generate income except as the one who supplies.
Mil Industrial complex gets a +9 billion.
This might continue the programs of hardware development for the USA. But we have serious homes economic issues. We absolutely need to rebuild the pipelines and start adding nukes to the energy grid.
Cheap energy and higher A.I. automation will be the only way for us to clear out some critical economic supply issues.
The flying moonpig with 13 quadrillion lines of code. If the pilot is too light (under 150 lbs) ejection will wreck his neck or probably kill him. If it is seen it cannot outrun, out accelerate, or out turn anything else. The switchology is archaic requiring the use of touchscreens *while maneuvering*.
https://www.rollcall.com/2015/10/16/exclusive-f-35-ejection-seats-could-endanger-many-pilots/
We can do better. It’s main design feature is the way the production is spread between hundreds of Congressional districts, meaning it is almost impervious to budget cuts.
That’s a nice “round” digital number.
One of my favorites.
64 bits provides plenty-o-resolution for most daily purposes.
I cast my vote for the YF-23, but the F-35 has its perks.
And yet, it wins fighter competitions in countries all over the world. Against very strong competition. It’s almost like all those countries who select it have better information than people who continue to insist it’s a terrible aircraft. Every pilot I know who flies it loves it. Most have come to it from other aircraft. But what do they know.
A weight minimum like that could be perceived as discriminatory towards female fighter pilots.
Meanwhile the UAE is backing out of discussions to buy 50 F-35’s...https://haaretz.com/us-news/uae-will-suspend-talks-with-u-s-on-f-35-jets-uae-official-says-1.10465606
And it’s not just the most advanced plane they’re getting. They are locking in 30-40 years of shared technology, shared manufacturing and sustainment, arms, data sharing, armaments, and joint operations.
UAE has a choice to make, the United States or China.
“A weight minimum like that could be perceived as discriminatory towards female fighter pilots.”
Recruit more bull dykes, that is the answer......
And in related news, Finland's Prime Minister is still smoking freakin' hot.
Good, I worked “Ice Window”
Is this the one that you need a wifi/web connection to fire it up?
Of course you dont know, that’s the point
I live in F-35land here in Yuma. My neighbors are pilots and maintainers.
The compare it to the AV-8 and the difference is like the F-16 to a T-33 in technology and performance. In the Harrier they claim a hover is like trying to juggle while balancing on a bowling ball. In the F-35B, it is a hands off, nudge the controls effort.
The maintainers say there is no unused space in the Harrier like under the hood of a modern car. The F-35 is designed for modular maintenance.
It's weak link is the code, change one bit and you have a full software review board and a forever time delay before implementation. All said though, it is past the teething problems you would expect with new weapon systems.
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