ARLINGTON, Virginia, the United States (BulgarianMilitary.com) – This week on Monday (18 February 2019) it became clear that Finland may acquire Boeing’s most advanced airborne electronic attack (AEA) aircraft, EA-18G Growler, after Boeing and the U.S. Navy have received the approval of the United States Department of Defence to offer it to the Finish country, learned BulgarianMilitary.com

Before that, only Australia had been permitted to fly the Growler alongside the U.S. Navy. Now Finland has become the second country after Australia to be authorised to purchase the aircraft.

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As a reply to a query issued by the Finnish Ministry of Defence under the HX fighter program procurement of Finland, Boeing and the Navy have offered the Growler and F/A-18 Super Hornet.

Dan Gillian, Boeing vice president, F/A-18 and EA-18G programs, commented, “All strike fighter aircraft rely on Growler escort to increase survivability during high-threat missions. The combination of the Super Hornet Block III and Growler would provide Finland with superior technological capability particularly suited to Finland’s HX mission requirements.”

Read more: Finland Will Enhance Its Naval Power in the Baltic Sea

The EA-18G Growler is a variant of the combat-proven F/A-18F Super Hornet that provides tactical jamming and electronic protection to U.S. military forces and allies around the world. As already mentioned, it is the world’s most advanced AEA platform and the only one in production today. It features capabilities such as disrupting, deceiving or denying a broad range of military electronic systems including radar and communication systems. Investments in advanced Growler capabilities are continuously made so that to be ensured the protection of all strike aircraft during high-threat missions for decades to come.

The intention of Finland is to phase out its Hornet fighters by 2030. The goal of the HX fighter programme is to replace current Hornet fleet with new manned multi-role fighters.

In that connection, last month, the Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command received replies from five aircraft manufacturers for the invitations to tender for the HX fighter programme.

The final decision on the replacement of the Hornet fleet is expected to be taken in 2021.

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Source: Boeing, Airforce Technology