Ukraine submitted a request for F/A-18 fighters to Finland
23 March, 2023 Finnish F/A-18 fighter jet. Photo from open sources Ukraine submitted a request to Finland to discuss the possibility of transferring F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets.
The Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported this with reference to its own sources. The issue of supplying combat aircraft is extremely important for Ukraine. Fighter jets, in particular, are needed to protect against Russian air attacks.
The publication notes that these combat aircraft are a matter of trilateral negotiations between Finland, Ukraine, and the USA. A possible transfer of these aircraft in the future requires US approval since the F/A-18 Hornet is manufactured by an American defense company. It is noted that Ukraine's request for discussion is a reaction to the words of Sanna Marin, Prime Minister of Finland.
During her visit to Kyiv in March, she mentioned that Finland and other allies might consider providing Ukraine with F/A-18 fighter jets.
Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. March 2023, Ukraine. Photo credits: Office of the President of Ukraine
She emphasized that so far, all talks about fighter jets were at the initial stage.
And in that matter, extensive cooperation between Western allies would be needed. "I think we could discuss the Hornet fighter jets - whether it would be possible to offer them to Ukraine and what preparation is needed for this," Marin said.
F/A-18 Hornet fighters of the Air Force of Finland.
2022 year. Photo credits: "sukhavatii"
Hornet fighter jets are at the end of their service life in Finland and will be replaced by US-made F-35 combat aircraft.
Currently, the Finnish Air Force has 62 F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets in service. Finland has ordered 64 state-of-the-art F-35 fighters from the US.
F-35 and FA-18 Hornet fighter jets. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Finland
The first F-35 fighters will enter service with the Finnish Air Force in 2025, given the personnel training in the United States.
In general, it is planned to replace the Hornet fleet with the F-35 from 2028 to 2030.
Previously, General Serhii Holubtsov, Chief of Aviation of Ukraine's Air Force, told The Times that an American assessment of Ukrainian fighter pilots in the US has proved they would be ready to fly F-16 jets after less than six months of training.
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