In 2007, Finland wanted to secretly acquire AGM-158 JASSM stealth cruise missiles from Lockheed Martin to arm its Hornet F / A-18C / D fighters. Despite a history of good relations, the US State Department refused in 2007.
Fast forward to 2008. The Russian invasion of Georgia and the German reaction have upset many calculations in the region. As NATO weakens, the Scandinavian countries are moving towards informal armament with their own compact defenses. Finland, whose memories of the Russian invasion are still alive, reiterated its request for stealth cruise missiles. In 2011 Finland finally got what she wanted …
Rockets: JSOW, SLAM-ER, JASSM and Taurus
In reality, the only serious threat to Finland comes from Russia, which is deploying a fleet of modern fighters and covering them with air defense missile belts. The Finnish Hornets were originally intended to protect the airspace of Finland in the event of a new attack by Russia, and the direct support of troops in battle was assigned secondary roles. The acquisition of low-visibility cruise missiles gives them a third potential role: the ability to retaliate against enemy targets and targets in the vicinity of Finland with a much greater chance of success than the bombs on the F / A-18C. The Russians understand this, which is why Finland's request has become a delicate issue for the US State Department.
Finland is looking for missiles that are already integrated and qualified for the F / A-18 Hornet and combine low radar signature alongside GPS / infrared imaging guidance and less than 10 meters standard deviation from the target. Candidates for this role were Raytheon with AGM-154 JSOW, Boeing with AGM-84K SLAM-ER missile, Lockheed Martin with AGM-158 JASSM and MBDA / EADS / Saab Taurus KEPD 350. All of them are subsonic.
Raytheon's AGM-154 JSOW stands alone in this group because most versions are not engine-powered. The weapon weighs just under 500 kg (1,100 lb) and uses classic GPS / infrared combined guidance. However, it is a glide bomb and uses its wings and body shape to create lift when maneuvering towards a target. This allows the bomb to be used at a distance of 22-130 km (14-80 miles), depending on the altitude and speed at which it was dropped. At this range, it acts like a cruise missile, albeit with some compromises in sharp maneuvering. JSOWs are in high demand with many US allies. The most recent modification is the AGM-154C-1 JSOW Block III, which includes a 2-lane data link for re-targeting weapons in flight, and also has the ability to engage enemy ships. The JSOW-ER variant even has a small turbojet engine that allows the bomb to fly up to 500 km (300 miles) at low speed, but this model is still being tested.
Finland has requested a limited set of AGM-154C JSOW weapons for testing and may still select them as shorter-range precision weapons for use alongside long-range cruise missiles.
The Boeing AGM-84K SLAM-ER missile is a derivative of the Harpoon naval missile, but in addition has wings, changes in the shape of the hull, guidance and some other changes. Powered by a jet engine, the 725 kilogram (1,600 lb) SLAM-ER has an effective range of 280 km (150 nautical miles) and carries a 360 kilogram (800 lb) warhead. The two-way communication channel allows you to view the video transmitted from the rocket and redirect it in flight. The company's clients are the US Navy, South Korea and Turkey, but Finland has not publicly expressed an interest in this missile.
Lockheed Martin's AGM-158 JASSM missile has a difficult development history, the program faced a number of forced delays and threats of closure. In fact, JASSM is only integrated with the F / A-18 because the US Navy was once a partner - before it was cut back in FY 2005 and ordered the SLAM-ER. The turbojet 1020 kilogram (2250 lb) JASSM can carry a 1000 lb warhead over a range of 320 km (200 miles) while transmitting data over a single-lane communication channel. Since it is considered the missile with the least radar signature, the US Air Force regards it as a critical missile against targets protected by sophisticated long-range air defense systems.
The US Air Force is the main customer for JASSM. Australia also ordered it, but with a list of reservations. Orders can also come from Holland, South Korea and Finland, the latter focusing on JASSM for a number of years. In October 2011, the US Department of Defense finally gave formal approval to Finland's inquiries.
The Taurus KEPD rocket is the result of a multinational effort led by EADS LFK and Saab Bofors Dynamics AB and marketed through MBDA. The KEPD-350 weighs 1,400 kg (3,086 lb), which is more than the JASSM, and its stealth features are described as "moderate" as it did not use an absorbent coating for radar camouflage. The turbofan missile relies on low maneuverability and the ability to carry additional fuel to deliver its 500 kilogram (1,100 lb) MEPHISTO warhead to an effective range of 350 km (210 miles). There are currently no flight or retargeting data lines. Spain has ordered KEPD-350s for its EF-18s, Germany for its Tornadoes and Euroffighters and finally Sweden is expected to order them for its JAS-39 Gripen fighters. With the formal publication in 2011 by the US Department of Defense of the JASSM, hopes that Finland would abandon the KEPD-350 as "Plan B" have largely disappeared.
Contracts & Key Events
October 31, 2011: The US Department of Defense ultimately approves Finland's official request for the purchase of AGM-158 JASSM cruise missiles. Finland will receive 70 AGM-158 cruise missiles, 2 test vehicles, as well as support and test equipment, manual and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, as well as support from the US government and private contractors. The estimated cost of the contract is $ 255 million.
The Department of State's Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) continues to glorify Finland as a force for stability in Europe, making their previous failures and delays difficult to explain. The agency emphasizes that "The proposed sale of this equipment and subsequent support will not change the main military balance in the region," which is true, but their presence will provide Finland with significant deterrent capabilities that it did not have before.
April 1, 2009: Finnish media reports that a government finance commission has approved € 200 million for the modernization and purchase of new equipment for 67 Finnish F / A-18 C / D Hornets, as part of a € 1 billion upgrade plan the entire park by 2016. This permit also includes a second request for American JASSM missiles, with Patria Oyj acting as the Finnish integrator.
Finnish officials are reported to be optimistic. This request is believed to be approved. If not, the documents received from YLE indicate that the KEPD Taurus-350 will be a fallback for Finland. KEPD is a partner of EADS LFK, MBDA and Saab Bofors Dynamics, and the Taurus rocket is already integrated with the Spanish F / A-18 ("EF-18") Hornet.
September 9, 2008: The Department of State's Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) announces Finland's formal request for the third phase of its modernization program for 63 F / A-18C and F / A-18D Hornet aircraft. The contract could cost up to $ 406 million, and Boeing, a McDonnell Douglas subsidiary in St. Louis, Missouri, will be the prime contractor.
Finland has already begun work on improving its air force with the introduction of LITENING targeting pods, modern AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM and AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, and other innovations.
Among the items requested are the AGM-154C Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) high-precision missile, 15 AGM-154C JSOW gliding high-precision bombs, the JSOWs Raytheon stealth guided weapon with a small radar reflective surface, and something similar to the AGM-158 JASSM.
