Thread by @charlyjsp

Thread on Finnish #Hxhanke presser and decision, which is…

Finland chose #F35. It was best in mil capability.

Industrial Participation package fulfilled requirements. Incl build and delivery to others of front fuselage- that’s huge.

Security of Supply requirements fulfilled, extensive coop w F35 user community internationally important.

Finland is confident that annual use cost max limit of €254m/yr will not be exceeded, with some margin.

Cudos to @anttikaikkonen for clearly thanking all 5 OEMs, all countries, especially those not chosen, emphasising that he hopes and expects deep security and #defence cooperation to continue with all.

FDF @Finnchod talking through the weights between different performance/capability components and underlines operating F35 is possible under existing budget requirements.

In Q&A:
PM @MarinSanna says decision was unanimous but Ministers from Left Alliance @liandersson & @HSarkkinen noted concern about annual use costs

Program Director @LauriPuranen continues and goes through #Hxhanke process and describes how OEMs were walked through what #Finland needed and how requirements might be filled.

Here @LauriPuranen describes gate system where no one person or group could impact whole decision.

Here examples of external auditors comments, incl notes where a competitor may have been inadvertently favoured- all others than F35

Chief of @FinnishAirForce @JokinenPasi says in capability scoring F-35 achieved 4.47 (where 4.0 was requirement), next best got 3.81.
64 jets w tooling, spares, comprehensive weapons package.

Holy S: out of €8.4Bn deal €4.7 go to F-35, €2.9Bn to service etc, €755m max to A2A weapons (for now), later more A2As and A2Gs as planes come online - avoiding mass obsolescence in the future (and unstated: more advanced weapons, 260 anyone? ;-)

Of significant note, per Gen Renko:

#Finland will have most extensive domestic servicing capability of F-35, except the United States.
THAT IS HUGE.

Also highlights how much Finland plans assume having to fight alone - hoping it doesn’t have to.