Finnish Air Force’s Series of Flight Evaluation Trials Commence

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Eurofighter Typhoon becomes the first aircraft to participate in the Finnish Air Force's Series of Flight Evaluation Trials to see which fighter aircraft will be selected to replace the existing fleet of F/A-18C Hornets.

https://www.defense-aerospace.com/artic ... rials.html

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Two Rafale fighter jets built by French manufacturer Dassault have landed at Pirkkala Air Force Base to start two weeks of intensive testing and evaluation.

https://newsnowfinland.fi/domestic/watc ... mbat-tests

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Enter candidate number 3, Saab's Gripen E.
https://www.flightglobal.com/defence/fi ... 56.article

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Two USAF F-35A Lightning IIs from Luke AFB, Arizona arrived in Finland to take part in the HX Fighter Replacement Programme.

USAF F-35As on Finnish soil

On 9 February 2020, two USAF Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II fighter aircraft landed at Tampere/Pirkkala airport (Finland) to take part in the Finnish HX Fighter Replacement Programme (HX-FRP, HX stands for Hornet replacement with candidate X aircraft).

The transfer of the two 308th Fighter Squadron 'Emerald Knights' (56th Fighter Wing) F-35A Lightning IIs, serials 13-5066/LF and 15-5189/LF (as '308FS' flagship), from homebase Luke AFB (AZ) took a total of five days. The Lightnings had to refuel several times on the way, which was followed by a refuelling tanker. Because of Storm Ciara, the last leg was an eight-hour stormy flight across the Atlantic.

HX-FRP is a one-week long, highly demanding test flight programme where Finnish Defense Administration experts can test the performance and suitability of the F/A-18C/D Hornet successor in demanding Finnish conditions. The flight programme for the participating aircraft manufacturers started on 9 January 2020 and will end on 26 February 2020 *).

In 2019, a former Commander of the Finnish Air Force, had stated that the HX programme emphasis is placed on the security of the logistical chain for the chosen aircraft. As Finland is not a full NATO member, it lacks the logistical and repair infrastructure. In event of a conflict, the Finnish military expects to be independent. Thus it is important that the basic logistical demands of a future chosen aircraft to be able to be met within Finland. When looking at the F-35A Lightning II, it remains to be seen how willingly the United States will be towards this Finnish demand.

It is expected that at the end of 2020, the Finnish Armed Forces Logistics Department will send out a call for tenders to the best and final offers. Once analysed, the Finnish Government will make a procurement decision towards the end of 2021.

*) SFN 9 January 2020, Next phase of Finland's HX-FRP (HX Fighter Replacement Programme) kicks off today
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HX Challenge almost finished

The HX Fighter Replacement Programme (HX-FRP, HX stands for Hornet replacement with candidate X aircraft) almost finished the HX Challenge phase, where the respective manufacturers have brought their test aircraft to the Finnish air base Tampere/Pirkkala. Each manufacturer gets five days to perform all required test scenarios *).

On 18 February 2020, the last manufacturer, Boeing, arrived at Tampere/Pirkkala with all three variants of the Super Hornet.

The second phase of negotiations will end in 2020, when manufacturers will be asked for final offers. The Government will make a decision on the successor to the Hornet in 2021.

The test period for the respective manufacturers were defined as follows and the manufacturers have brought the following aircraft to Finland:
09-01/17-01-2020: Eurofighter Typhoon,
Typhoon FGR4 ZK356 and Typhoon T3 ZK303/AX, both 41sq markings
20-01/28-01-2020: Dassault Rafale,
Rafale B 301 and 354/4-FU
29-01/06-02-2020: Saab 39 Gripen NG,
JAS39E 39-10 and JAS39NG 39-7
07-02/17-02-2020:
F-35A Lightning II, 13-5066/LF and 15-5189/LF ('308FS flagship) both 308th FS
18-02/26-02-2020: F/A-18 Super Hornet,
F/A-18E BuNo 169742, F/A-18F BuNo 169750 and EA-18G BuNo 169219

*) SFN 9 January 2020, Next phase of Finland's HX-FRP (HX Fighter Replacement Programme) kicks off today
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