to get back on topic, I’d like to reiterate my main points
1) Finland does not require a new fighter jet, because it doesn’t face a short term military threat
as things stand, Russia is no position to pose a danger to Finland, because Finland would receive immediate and unconditional support from Europe and the US
Russia would feel a huge economic backlash, and also simply has no reason to attack Finland: despite the sanctions Russia is building a nuclear powerplant for Finland
if anything Russia is more likely to be an ally to Finland in any conflict than an enemy
2) Finland does not have a history of engaging in offensive air campaigns, for example it did not participate in the attack on Libya
participating in any future conflicts (over say Syria) also makes it likely that Finland would come into direction conflict with Russia, something I don’t think it would be willing to do, as Finnish companies seek to restore economic ties to Russia
3) if Finland does insist on buying a new fighter jet, it will be better to wait a bit longer, as the next evolution of aircraft (UCAVs) is right around the corner
we’ve seen a major evolution in military aircraft technology, it’s become more powerful and reliable
the time were it was all about the pilot’s skill is becoming a thing of the past, now it’s about how good the technology is
even for dogfighting, cannons are radar-aimed, and between superior missiles like the IRIS-T and Python 5 and soon lasers, WVR combat becomes suicide as technology make attacks increasingly impossible to block or dodge
as such air forces will have to adapt or die. and difficult as it is to accept, there will be little place for human pilots in that dangerous future
so I think Russia should wait, and certainly not waste its money on the flying question mark that is the $124 milion (price Japan agreed to in 2013) F-35
then it’s better off buying the very capable Gripen NG at $43 million (price the Swedish air force is paying for them)
Rosatom is involved in the nukelar plant in Hanhikivi…so far 100 mio worth rocks have been cleared and roads built. The french company that built the plant in near Helsinki went so far above the budget (3x ) that that there wont be a third plant as was planned.
Yes and an Gripen NG is one possibility.
I don’t think our jockeys wanna fly drones.
AF has said it buys no test phase planes…so NG better be ready soon.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kwb7QkMiyYQ
I see one thing here that is better than in Rafale; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkBkXG-eVOo
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