As the deadline for submitting an invitation to tender for the Finnish fighter project (HX) approaches, Finland is currently preparing to send out the call for tenders in April or May this year to the five aircraft manufacturers that have participated in the information request phase. These include: Swedish Saab’s Gripen, American Lockheed Martin’s F-35 and F/A-18 Super Hornet, French Dassault’s Rafale and Eurofighter’s Typhoon from Britain in co-operation with other European countries.
Lauri Puranen, Programme Director of Strategic Projects at the Ministry of Defense, says: “For performance, the most important decision-making area, we have prepared scenarios for our operating environment and our defense system, for which providers must present their own solutions. These solutions will include aircraft numbers, weapons, sensors, protection systems, networking with other aircraft and systems, the tactics used and other support needed in the operation, in the scenarios.”
Puranen also indicated that the final selection is scheduled for 2021.