Finland faces uncertainty over F-35 weapons deliveries

Finland has ordered effective weapons and capabilities for its new F-35 fighter jets, but it is not certain that all of them will arrive on schedule, Yle reports.

The purchase of the F-35s and their weapons from the United States is Finland’s most expensive ever, costing about 10 billion euros. That is roughly half of the wage taxes paid by all Finns in one year. The Finnish Defence Forces believe the acquisition is worth the cost.

Finland has ordered 64 F-35s. They will replace the country’s current F/A-18 Hornet fleet around the turn of the 2030s. The first aircraft arrived in Finland on Friday, September 18.

The F-35 is smaller, slower and heavier than the Hornet, but it is still expected to be superior overall.

“It is a very obvious choice for the Finnish Air Force because you are located close to the threat, on the border with Russia,” said Justin Bronk, a visiting senior research fellow at RUSI, a leading British security research institute, and a visiting professor at the Royal Norwegian Air Force Academy.

Henrik Elo, who leads the Finnish Air Force’s F-35 programme, identifies the aircraft’s stealth characteristics and sensors as its key features. Elo has previously flown MiG fighter aircraft and Hornets.

The F-35’s most important capabilities include detection, the merging of sensor data and stealth, as well as the ability to disable or destroy targets.

“The old truth is that the one who sees first wins,” Elo said.

The aircraft can see farther and gather more information than the current fighters, although the Finnish Air Force does not disclose how far it can see. Its sensors collect data from different sources and combine it into a single picture of the situation. Six cameras monitor the aircraft’s surroundings across 360 degrees, while an electronically scanned radar detects, identifies and supports the destruction of targets.

Most of the F-35’s weapons are carried in internal weapons bays, while some are mounted under its wings. The aircraft’s shape, surface and method of carrying weapons are important to its stealth characteristics.

Its technology is designed to produce as little electromagnetic signature as possible, making it difficult for an adversary to detect it with radar or other equipment.

Stealth is central to the aircraft’s advantage

The purpose of stealth is to allow the fighter to approach a target before the adversary detects it. Because the aircraft is difficult to detect and track, it can operate effectively and survive in an area where an attacker is using long range weapons and radar.

Cameras, radar, stealth, powerful weapons and other features are intended to give the F-35 an advantage in combat.

“We see the enemy before it sees us. We can affect it earlier, win the battle and still make it home,” Elo said.

Bronk shares that assessment. In his view, Finnish F-35 pilots will be better able to withstand threats from Russia and will have more information about what is happening around them.

According to Bronk, other so called fifth generation fighter aircraft do not have the same level of stealth.

Questions over deliveries and dependence

The aircraft’s capabilities are of little use if the planes do not arrive on time, their operation is uncertain or they cannot be put into the air.

The production of F-35s has involved difficulties, delays, missed deadlines and unexpected costs, which have been reported in the media of several countries. In the United States, an independent watchdog reporting to Congress closely monitors major weapons programmes, including the fighter programme, and publishes reports on them.

There is also uncertainty around Finland’s programme, although much of the relevant information is classified and cannot be disclosed. Various exaggerated rumours are also circulating.

One question concerns whether the aircraft has a so called kill switch, a function that would allow the United States to disable, for example, Finland’s fighters at the push of a button.

“That discussion wasted citizens’ time. The suspicion was unfounded and groundless,” Elo said.

Asked what would happen if the United States decided not to update the aircraft’s software, Elo said the F-35 would not immediately stop flying. However, it would not have the latest information on issues such as changing threats.