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.’
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