F/A-18As A21-38, A21-49 and A21-13 representing Nos 75, 77 and 3
Squadrons share the ramp at Williamtown. No 3 Squadron actually
fl ew its fi nal Hornet sortie last December and is undergoing
conversion to the F-35A at Luke AFB. Commonwealth of AustraliaFINLAND’S HX PROGRAM MAKES PROGRESS
THE FINNISH GOVERNMENT has
issued a request for quotation
(RfQ) to four nations in order
to nd potential bidders for
the Finnish Air Force’s HX
ghter program to replace its
F/A-18C/D Hornets.
Bids have been requested
from France, Sweden, the United
Kingdom and the United States.All four nations responded to the
original request for information
(RFI) from Finland, which was
issued in 2016.
The bidders’ candidates
comprise the Boeing F/A-18E/F
Super Hornet, Dassault Rafale,
Euro ghter Typhoon, Saab Gripen
and Lockheed Martin F-35A
Lightning II.Helsinki has a requirement for 64
multi-role ghters with weapons
and sensors, alongside support,
training systems and spares.
Finland says it aims to select
a suitable replacement ghter
for the ‘legacy’ Hornet eet in
2021, before it begins to retire its
upgraded, multi-role, F/A-18C/Ds
from 2025.The next phase of the
procurement will begin in the
second half of 2019, when nal
o ers will be negotiated with
the bidders. Final quotations are
expected to be requested in 2020.
The bids will be assessed based
on the ability to perform in ve
scenarios: counter-air, counter-
land, counter-sea, intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance,
and long-range strike.[NEWS] WORLD
20 July 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
18-23 World News C.indd 20 22/05/2018 17: