Helsinki has once again raised its voice with aeronautical manufacturers participating in the HX-F program, aimed at replacing the F18s of the Finnish air force. This time, the country's authorities have called on manufacturers to respect the framework provided by the call for tenders, and in particular the budgetary framework, so as to produce offers which must be "realistic". Previously, Helsinki had already had to intervene to put an end to the lobbying campaigns carried out by industrialists against the members of the committee in charge of this issue.
Finland has defined a strict framework for its HX-F program, with a firm envelope of €10 billion, or $11,1 billion. This envelope must cover the acquisition of aircraft, weapons, spare parts, maintenance equipment, simulators, and the necessary infrastructure. It cannot be circumvented by exotic financial arrangements, aimed for example at removing certain costs from the final statement. In addition, the envelope cannot see budgetary overruns deducted by promises of industrial compensation, even if these are largely desired by Helsinki.
The Finnish approach is, in fact, particularly "sound", since it is independent of any notion of "Fly Away Condition" tariff or tariff manipulation, as it concerns a global envelope without specifying the number number of devices (target at 60 devices). By proceeding in this way, and relying on a significant overall envelope of €10 billion, Helsinki wants to maintain complete control of its costs, and thus avoiding unpleasant surprises, more or less predictable depending on the case. So, as shown the Swiss site Avia news, the drop in F35 “Fly Away Condition” price announced a few days ago, must in reality be compensated by direct costs, but outside the scope, to present an attractive face price, such as the costs linked to the ALIS maintenance system.
The HX-F competition opposes the Boeing F18 E/F, the Rafale of Dassault, the Typhoon from Eurofighter, the F35 from Lockheed-Martin and the Saab JAS 39 E/F Gripen. Participants will take part in an evaluation in 2020, and will have to submit a first quotation. Following an initial selection and bipartite negotiations, the winner will be selected in 2021, and deliveries must be effective for the withdrawal of the 60 F18s from the Finnish air force in 2030.