Finland advised to eye replacement for F/A-18 fighters

HELSINKI, Finland, June 12 (UPI) -- Finland's Ministry of Defense reports that a working group has recommended replacement of the country's fleet of 62 F/A-18 fighters.

F/A-18 fighters of the Finnish Air Force, whose operational life-cycle ends at the end of the next decade, should be replaced with a multi-role fighter that would "play a significant role in securing a pre-emptive threshold which would stop a possible aggressor from using military force against Finland," the group said, according to the Ministry of Defense.

The capabilities of multi-role fighters would be complemented with air defense capabilities -- including unmanned aircraft -- which will be studied at a later date.

The working group recommended a 15-year project for replacement of F/A-18s begin this year, with project-related information requests sent and invitations for tenders sent during the current parliamentary term.

The conclusions of the working group were delivered earlier this week to the country's Minister of Defense.