F/A-18 Super Hornets arrive in Finland for HX Challenge
Two Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornets and an EA-18G Growler have arrived in Finland to begin flight trials as part of the country’s HX Challenge.
Boeing is offering a combination of its F/A-18 Block III Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler platforms for the HX competition, along with a sustainment and training programme.
The aircraft will undergo flight trials at Pirkkala Air Base near Tampere to demonstrate their capabilities in the Finnish operating environment.
The Block III Super Hornet configuration adds capability upgrades and includes a technology insertion plan to keep the aircraft ahead of emerging threats. The EA-18G Growler is based on the Super Hornet platform and shares over 90% of common components and systems.
Maria Laine, vice president of International Strategic Partnership for Boeing Defense, Space & Security, said: ‘The strong Boeing-Finland partnership started nearly 30 years ago when the first F/A-18s entered service with the Finnish Air Force.
‘We are confident that our current offering – a mix of Super Hornet Block IIIs and Growlers – is the right choice for the Finnish Air Force and Finnish industry and will support a mutually beneficial partnership for decades to come.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![DSEI 2025: UK launches Project Octopus to deliver thousands of interceptor drones to Ukraine]()
DSEI 2025: UK launches Project Octopus to deliver thousands of interceptor drones to Ukraine
The programme will work to build and deploy the drones to Ukraine to support its fight against Russia, coming a day after Poland shot down 19 Russian drones in its airspace.
-
![DSEI 2025: NATO members evaluate Black Widow UAV as it joins NSPA catalogue]()
DSEI 2025: NATO members evaluate Black Widow UAV as it joins NSPA catalogue
The addition of Red Cat’s Black Widow to NATO’s NSPA catalogue opens the doors for allied forces to more easily procure the AI-enabled drone.
-
![DSEI 2025: Deutsche Aircraft takes aim at special mission market with D328MR]()
DSEI 2025: Deutsche Aircraft takes aim at special mission market with D328MR
The company plans to offer its D328eco commercial aircraft as a multi-role variant, and spoke to Shephard at DSEI 2025 about its ambitions for the future.
-
![DSEI 2025: New AR3 EVO puts Tekever’s modularity ambitions under the spotlight]()
DSEI 2025: New AR3 EVO puts Tekever’s modularity ambitions under the spotlight
An evolution of the Tekever AR3, the AR3 EVO that broke cover at DSEI incorporates the thousands of incremental evolutions the company has implemented through its spiral development, geared towards delivering a constant stream of improved aircraft to Ukraine.
-
![DSEI 2025: Schiebel reveals two weaponised Camcopter UAVs]()
DSEI 2025: Schiebel reveals two weaponised Camcopter UAVs
The new capabilities are based on platforms already in use or in development, and are designed to perform in demanding defence missions.
