The position of Finland after the end of the Second World War was very difficult. The Finnish people paid dearly for the adventurism and shortsightedness of their rulers. About 86,000 Finns died during the armed confrontation with the Soviet Union, industry, agriculture and transport fell into decay. According to the Paris Peace Treaty, concluded in 1947, the country had to pay about $ 300 million as compensation for damage caused by the actions of Finnish troops on the territory of the USSR. Nevertheless, Finland, albeit in a difficult situation, managed to maintain political and economic independence.
After the conclusion of the peace agreement, Finland was prohibited from possessing offensive weapons, missiles and more than 60 combat aircraft. In the first post-war years, piston fighters that were operated during the war remained in service. In the early 50s, restrictions on the purchase of modern combat aircraft were relaxed. And in 1954, the De Havilland DH100 Vampire Mk.52 jet fighters entered the Air Force. In total, the Finnish Air Force received 6 single-seat and 9 jet trainer vehicles.
However, these British-made aircraft could not be considered modern in the mid-50s. The first Vampire fighters entered service with the RAF in early 1946. This fighter, built according to an archaic two-boom scheme, developed a speed of 882 km / h in horizontal flight and was armed with four 20-mm cannons and, according to its flight data, was not much superior to piston fighters of the Second World War. In the USSR at this time, the jet MiG-15, MiG-17 were built in thousands of copies and the supersonic MiG-19 was launched into the series. It is clear that the Finnish "Vampires" in no way could compete with Soviet fighters, but this was not required of them. Light and simple "Vampires" helped to accumulate the necessary experience in operating jet aircraft, train pilots and ground personnel, their service in Finland as training aircraft continued until 1965.
In 1958, the first Folland Gnat Mk.1 light interceptors were delivered to Finland. For that time, it was a fairly modern combat aircraft, developing a speed of 1120 km / h in horizontal flight. Fighter Gnat (English Mosquito) combined good flight performance with low cost. With a maximum take-off weight of 3,950 kg, the fighter could take off from a 300-meter runway and stay in the air for more than 2 hours. The plane was very popular among Finnish pilots. The fighters demonstrated high reliability even in extremely low temperatures in northern Finland. The built-in armament consisted of two 30 mm ADEN cannons. To combat enemy bombers, eighteen 80 mm NAR Hispano HSS-R could be suspended.
Initially, the Finns expressed a desire to establish licensed production of "Komarov", but later they considered that "the game is not worth the candle", since it would be too expensive to keep more than 20 units. In addition, the military wanted a supersonic fighter. As a result, the Finns, constrained in funds, purchased only 13 British-made aircraft - for one squadron. Already after 10 years, the fighter was considered obsolete, due to the absence of an on-board radar, the search for an air target was carried out visually or by commands from a ground-based radar. There were no guided missiles in the ammunition load, and the subsonic flight speed did not allow quickly taking an advantageous position for interception. The last Mosquitoes were decommissioned in Finland in 1972.
The Finns learned very well the lessons of the armed confrontation with the USSR, and therefore, after the end of World War II, they tried to maintain friendly relations with their giant eastern neighbor. Finland distanced itself from the NATO bloc and pursued a policy of neutrality. In 1948, a Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance was signed with the USSR. The key provision of the Treaty was the establishment of cooperation between the two countries in the field of defense in the event of "military aggression by Germany or any state allied with it." This concerned both the FRG and the NATO countries, as well as the GDR and the Warsaw Pact. At the same time, Finland retained a certain sovereignty in defense matters, since joint military actions would be carried out only after bilateral consultations. The agreement was extended three times and was in effect until 1992. After the restrictions on the acquisition of modern weapons abroad were lifted, the Finns tried to diversify their purchases of military equipment, acquiring weapons both in Western countries and in neutral Sweden and the USSR.
The first Soviet-made aircraft delivered in 1962 were used MiG-15UTI training aircraft. Just at this time, negotiations were going on between the Soviet and Finnish representatives on the supply of fighters, and the Finns needed aircraft on which they could conduct training and training according to Soviet standards.
Initially, the USSR offered Finland the relatively simple and inexpensive MiG-17F, and later the MiG-19. However, by the beginning of the 60s, the MiG-17 subsonic fighters could no longer be considered the latest technology, although there were many of them in the USSR Air Force and the Warsaw Pact countries. The Finns rejected the MiG-19 on the basis that they received information about a large number of flight accidents with his participation. As a result, the parties managed to conclude a contract for the supply of the latest supersonic fighters MiG-21F-13 for those times.
Despite the fact that the United States, France and Great Britain strongly opposed the purchase of weapons and military equipment in the USSR, within the framework of the Treaty of Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance, the Soviet leadership took an unprecedented step by selling fighters to the capitalist country, which had just begun to enter their own Air force. Before the start of deliveries of the MiG-21F-13, the British actively offered their English Electric Lightning interceptor.
For the beginning of the 60s, the MiG-21F-13 had excellent flight data. The aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 8,315 kg was armed with one built-in 30-mm HP-30 cannon and two K-13 melee missiles. In addition, 32 NAR ARS-57M in suspended UB-16-57 blocks could be used to defeat air targets. At high altitude in horizontal flight, the aircraft accelerated to 2125 km / h and had a practical range of 1300 km without PTB.
Since 1963, the Finnish Air Force has received 22 MiG-21F-13 fighters. Soon two "twin" MiG-21Us were added to them. Since they tried to save the resource of combat vehicles, the load on the two-seater vehicles turned out to be very large and they were written off after 15 years. In 1974, four two-seat MiG-21UM were delivered, which flew until 1998.
For all its merits, the MiG-21F-13 had a very simple avionics and was intended mainly for daytime flights. At the same time, the Finns needed an interceptor capable of operating around the clock, equipped with a full-fledged radar.
In June 1971, a lease agreement for 6 Saab J35В Draken fighters was signed between Finland and Sweden. Regular flights of the first "Draken" in Finland began in the first half of 1972. The planes have proven themselves positively, and in 1976 they were bought back. At the same time, an additional batch of 6 Saab 35C Draken was purchased. In the Finnish Air Force, Swedish Drakens replaced the outdated British Gnat Mk.1 light interceptors.
In 1984, 24 Saab 35F Draken fighters were additionally purchased. "Drakens" were operated in the Finnish Air Force together with the MiG-21, the last Swedish-made fighters were decommissioned in 2000.
Compared to the Soviet MiG-21 "Drakens" equipped with more advanced radars, they were more suitable for monitoring the country's airspace. This fighter was originally developed for use as an interceptor, and in terms of the capabilities of onboard equipment, in the 70s it was one of the best. The fighters delivered from Sweden were equipped with advanced avionics, including integrated navigation, target designation and weapon control systems. The built-in data transmission system, combined with the STRIL-60 semi-automatic airspace survey system, the Saab AB FH-5 autopilot with the Arenko Electronics air parameters computer and the Saab AB S7B sight, ensured the use of Rb.27 and Rb.28 guided missiles on oppositely intersecting courses. The Rb 27 and Rb 28 missiles were licensed Swedish versions of the American AIM-4 Falcon with a semi-active radar and infrared seeker. On the Saab J35В and Saab J35С modifications, the built-in armament consisted of 30 mm ADEN cannons. On the Saab 35F, one cannon was reduced to accommodate additional electronic systems. A fighter with a maximum takeoff weight of 16,000 kg had a flight range with a PTB of 3250 km. Maximum speed at high altitude - 2, 2M. For takeoff, a strip of at least 800 meters long was required.
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With great interception capabilities compared to the MiG-21F-13 in the dark and in adverse weather conditions, the Drakens were much more expensive, had a high operating cost and required more qualified service. Taking into account the positive experience of using the MiG-21F-13, the Finns expressed a desire to acquire the most advanced of the “twenty-first” family - the MiG-21bis. Compared to earlier models, with a general aerodynamic design and external similarity, it was, in fact, a next-generation fighter equipped with a fairly advanced avionics and new R-60 melee missiles. Thanks to the improved internal layout and the P25-300 engine with a take-off thrust of 7100 kgf, it was possible to significantly increase the thrust-to-weight ratio. The airborne equipment of the aircraft includes the Sapfir-21 radar sight. In the version of equipment for air combat, the fighter's armament included a built-in 23-mm GSh-23L cannon and up to 6 air-to-air missiles. With a maximum takeoff weight of 9140 kg, the fitting range without PTB is 1 225 km. Maximum speed at high altitude - 2.05M.
The first two Bissa entered the Finnish Air Force in 1978. The next batch of 18 vehicles was delivered in 1980. The MiG-21bis have long been the most flying Finnish fighters. In the class of a single-engine light fighter, this aircraft was at that time one of the best, combining good combat and flight performance with a low price and acceptable operating costs.
The Finnish pilots quickly mastered the encore and loved this car. The aircraft had a fairly high potential, but since the Finnish Air Force did not have an interceptor capable of fighting high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft and balloons flying at an altitude of more than 20 km, they tried to adapt the MiG-21bis for this. With a passport practical "ceiling" of 17,800 meters, the Finns made more than 20 flights at an altitude of over 20,000 meters. The absolute record for altitude in the Finnish Air Force belongs to test pilot Jirki Lokkanen, who reached a ceiling of 21,500 meters. The MiG-21bis is still the only "two-wing" Finnish aircraft.
Compared to the USSR Air Force, where fighters, as a rule, were operated unchanged throughout their entire service life, in Finland a number of improvements and improvements were made to the encores. Thus, the Finnish MiGs received Western-made communication equipment and a new navigation system. A number of improvements have also been introduced to make it easier to operate.
According to the testimony of domestic aviation specialists, due to the relatively small number of Finnish combat aviation, the care and maintenance of the "encores" were much better than in the USSR Air Force. That had a beneficial effect on the reliability and resource of fighters. When concluding an agreement on the supply of MiG-21bis to Finland, the Soviet side set a condition according to which it was forbidden to acquaint third countries with the composition of weapons, characteristics of the radar sight and the internal structure of the cockpit. It should be noted that the Finns strictly complied with this condition, not allowing foreign correspondents to photograph the cabin from the inside, even in the second half of the 90s. Although in the Russian Air Force at that time there were no more "encores" in the combat aviation regiments.
The last MiG-21bis in Finland were removed from service in 1998. Over 20 years of operation, 6 MiG-21s were lost in flight accidents. Nevertheless, a significant part of the Finnish MiGs at the time of decommissioning were in very good technical condition. These fighters, with proper care, could be used in the 21st century.
Currently, in Finland, in expositions of three aviation museums and in memorial and exhibition complexes, 21 MiG-21s of various modifications have been preserved. One MiG-21bis is in flight condition, this machine regularly takes part in various air shows taking place both in Finland and abroad.
After the collapse of the USSR and the change in the balance of power in the world, the Finnish leadership no longer considered it necessary to maintain trusting relations with Russia and preferred to drift towards the United States. This inevitably affected the purchases of military equipment and weapons. The Finns refused the proposed Russian-made 4th generation fighters, preferring American ones. However, Finland has never completely abandoned Western weapons. In December 1977, an order was placed for 50 BAE Systems Hawk Mk 51 combat trainers. Delivery of the aircraft began in 1980 and ended in 1985.
A two-seater single-engine aircraft with a maximum takeoff weight of 5,700 kg has a maximum horizontal flight speed of 1,040 km / h and can be used as an attack aircraft and to combat air targets at low altitudes. In the Finnish Air Force, "Hoki" are considered as a means of countering UAVs and attack helicopters, as well as interceptors for forced landing of low-speed light aircraft. The armament of the Finnish Hawk Mk 51A includes an ADEN 30-mm air cannon, AIM-9P and AIM-9J melee missiles. In addition, Soviet R-60 missiles supplied with the MiG-21bis were adapted for these aircraft in the mid-80s.
In the 90s, some of the aircraft underwent overhaul and modernization, after which they began to be designated as Hawk Mk 51A. To replace worn-out aircraft in Switzerland, 18 modernized Hawk Mk 66 were purchased for € 41 million. The aircraft entered the Finnish squadrons in 2011. The upgraded Hawks can still fly for 15 years. As of 2016, the Finnish Air Force had 16 Mk 66, 7 Mk 51A and 1 Mk 51 in flight condition.
Soon after the collapse of the USSR, the Finns began negotiations on the purchase of McDonnell Douglas F / A-18 Hornet fighters from the United States. If the Soviet Union had not ceased to exist, the fighter of the new generation of the Finnish Air Force would most likely have become the MiG-29. The first Hornets arrived at the end of 1995. A total of 57 single F-18Cs and 7 doubles F-18Ds were ordered. The last 12 single-seat vehicles were assembled at the Finnish enterprise Patria Oy in 2000 from American components. Among the European countries that have purchased fighters from the United States, in addition to Finland, Hornets are in service only with the Spanish and Swiss Air Forces. Most of the American allies in Europe preferred the F-16 Fighting Falcon. Compared to the lighter single-engine "Attacking Falcon", the twin-engine "Hornet" has a lower top speed - 1,915 km / h at an altitude of 12,000 meters. At the same time, a heavier fighter with a maximum takeoff weight of 23540 kg has a longer flight range. With full refueling and outboard fuel tanks, the aircraft can cover 3300 km. In the variant for air combat, the Finnish Air Force fighters carry AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles. Built-in armament - 20mm M61 Vulcan cannon.
In general, the Finnish F-18C / D are similar to the aircraft in service in the United States. But the fighters of the Finnish Air Force were originally intended exclusively for air defense missions and gaining air superiority, and for political reasons did not carry strike weapons. But in November 2011, the US Congress approved the sale of AGM-158 JASSM and AGM-154 JSOW cruise missiles, JDAM guided bombs and sighting and search containers.
Finnish F-18C / Ds have been upgraded twice, from 2004 to 2010 and from 2012 to 2016. During the first modernization, the aircraft received new communication and navigation systems, LCD displays appeared in the cockpits, and the new AIM-9X melee missiles were included in the armament. During the second phase of the upgrade, the Hornets installed NATO MIDS 16 Link data exchange equipment, a new AN / ALR-67 warning system for radar exposure. The set of weapons was replenished with a new modification of the medium-range missile launcher AIM-120S-7.
According to the Military Balance 2016, there are 54 F-18Cs and 7 F-18Ds in service in Finland. They are based at the airfields of Rovaniemi, Tampere and Kuopio. There are also the headquarters of the territorial command of the Air Force and Air Defense: Laplandskoe, Satakunta and Karelian. The headquarters of the Air Force is located at Tikkakoski Air Base. According to forecasts, the Finnish "Hornets" may remain in service until 2030, but now they are beginning to look for a replacement. Dassault Rafale, Jas 39E Gripen NG or F-35A Lightning II fighters are considered as possible contenders.
