The Finnish Air Force maintains 55 F/A-18Cs and seven F/A-18Ds ordered from the US in 1995.
Currently, they are still being upgraded before the F-35 enters service. The F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine supersonic multirole fighter jet designed to operate on US aircraft carriers. It is considered one of the best aircraft carrier-based fighters in the world thanks to its high maneuverability, advanced avionics and stable performance. The combat capability of the F/A-18 Hornet is even superior to the recently commissioned MiG-29K fighter of the Russian naval air force.
Finnish F/A-18s were delivered between 1995 and 2000, to replaced the MiG-21bis and Saab 35 Draken in Finnish service. The Finnish Hornets were initially to be used only for air defense, hence the F-18 designation. The F-18C includes the Air๐๐จ๐ซ๐งe Self-Protection Jammer pod ALQ-165. The U.S. Navy later included the ALQ-165 on their F/A-18E/F Super Hornet procurement.
The Finnish Air Forceโs Hornet fleet went through a two-stage Mid-Life Upgrade program. It included the integration of the new AIM-9X Sidewinder missile together with the JHMCS helmet-mounted sight, new radios, a new IFF interrogator, and a new moving map display. Other upgrades include air-to-ground weapon systems. The cockpit was modernized, and Link 16 was added. The upgrade also includes the procurement and integration of a new version of the AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile.
The F/A-18 has excellent aerodynamics, mainly thanks to the forward wings. The Hornetโs primary role is to escort, protect the carrier fleet, suppress enemy air defenses, intercept aerial resupply, provide close-in air support, and conduct reconnaissance. The reliability and versatility of the F/A-18 Hornet and its upgraded F/A-18 Super Hornet make it one of the most valuable assets on a US Navy aircraft carrier today. It is estimated that more than 2,000 F/A-18s have been produced in different versions and operated in dozens of countries around the world.
Despite being an aircraft carrier-based fighter, the Hornet has been ordered by a number of countries that do not have aircraft carriers, including Finland. The export F/A-18 Hornet will be adjusted in design such as removing folding wings, brake cablesโฆ This is to reduce costs in procurement as well as maintenance.
With a service life of 30 years, the Hornets are to remain in active service until 2025โ2030. Currently, Finland often trains F/A-18 Hornet fighters to take off and land on highways. This is a very useful s๐๐พ๐๐ in conflict, when military airports will be the first target to be destroyed by the enemy. Defense forces can disperse planes to secret locations and then take off from highways to counterattack, surprising the enemy.
Soucre: military-wiki.com
