The main focus of the MLU 2 upgrade was on giving the jet an expanded air-to-ground capability, including the ability to drop GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs, AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) glide bombs, and AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM). The jets also gained the ability to fire newer versions of the AIM-120 air-to-air missile. To make the best use of these weapons and improve their ability to communicate with each other and allied jets, the Hornets got Litening targeting pods, Link-16 data links, new digital multifunction displays in the cockpit, and other improvements to the aircraft’s sensor and mission systems.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the Pentagon’s top arms brokers, estimated the deal would be worth approximately $156 million. This was a follow-on project to the Mid-Life Upgrade 2 (MLU 2) program that the Finnish Air Force completed in December 2016 .

“The Finnish Air Force (FAF) intend[s] to purchase this MLU program equipment and services to extend the useful life of its F/A-18 fighter aircraft and enhance their survivability and communications connectivity,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement “The FDF [Finnish Defense Forces] needs this upgrade to keep pace with technology advances in sensors, weaponry, and communications.”

The new upgrade will add Rockwell Collins Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System, or MIDS-J, to the aircraft, further improving their communications capabilities. The Pentagon said the arms deal would include installing radios onto the Hornets, software upgrades, flight testing, spares, and variety of other ancillary costs. As such, the deal is set to benefit a host of contractors, not just Boeing, the current owner and manufacturer of the Hornet design. The full list of principle firms includes Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, BAE North America, General Electric, General Dynamics, Northrop Grumman, ViaSat, and Data Link Solutions, in addition to Rockwell Collins – a veritable who’s who of top American defense contractors.

But it’s hard to give Trump the benefit of the doubt here, when he insisted he knew all there was to know about the topic. And He followed up that assertion by rambling incoherently about the size of Finland’s military.

“And you’re purchasing lots of other military equipment and I think purchasing very wisely. I know all of the military equipment and I actually agree with everything you’re purchased,” Trump said. “I think Finland’s really a respected country militarily. It’s got large armed forces for its size as a country. Really [it’s] proportionally probably one of the biggest in the world if you think about it.”

This comment is also misleading. Finland’s active military, approximately 33,000 individuals, represents a similar percentage of the country’s population as the active component of the U.S. military does to the rest of America. It’s only when one takes in account the country’s massive conscript reserves that the figure goes up dramatically. But then again, so does the proportional representation in countries like North Korea.

The Finnish Defense Forces are in the midst of a number of upgrade programs, though, estimated to be worth $20 billion in total. This includes the HX fighter replacement, as well as counter-battery radars for finding enemy artillery positions, precision guided missiles, new torpedoes the country's four Hamina-class fast attack boats to improve their anti-submarine warfare capabilities, and the addition of the Squadron 2020 battle management system to various ships throughout the Finnish Navy.

President Niinistö was diplomatic about the claim, simply saying “I guess so.”

Contact the author: joe@thedrive.com