Funding for the fighter procurement

The Parliament has approved an authorisation order of EUR 9.4 billion to procure multi-role fighters to replace the Hornet fleet. The transferable appropriation of EUR 579 million for five years will ensure that the procured system will be introduced as part of Finland’s defence system. EUR 21 million has been granted to cover the costs arising from the preparation of the programme.

The HX options of each tenderer differed as to the costs of introduction into service, construction needs and integration into the defence system. This is why each tenderer gave a tenderer-specific price limit, and, in addition, a similar option was included in the Request for Best and Final Offer for each tenderer for later purchases and contractual changes. Therefore, the price ceiling set for each tenderer was about EUR 9 billion.

Also read about why multi-role fighters are the best replacement for the Hornets.

Maintenance must be covered from the defence budget

According to the Government's Defence Report, the future maintenance and operating costs of the fighters can be covered from defence budgets without the need for separate funding.

The request for information provided initial estimates of the costs incurred from maintaining the fighters. However, the responses were not binding or comparable. They represented the manufacturers’ views. The responses indicated that maintenance costs similar to the current costs can be achieved.