The State Department approved a possible $115 million Foreign Military Sales (FMS) request to Finland for F/A-18 Mid-Life Upgrade Program and related support, equipment, and training.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the potential sale on Dec. 2.
Photo: Boeing
Finland requested a possible sale of follow-on equipment and support for the country’s F/A-18 Mid-Life Upgrade (MLU) program consisting of 90 Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio System (MIDS-JTRS) variants. The program support also includes software test and integration center upgrades, flight testing, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment, transportation, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. government and contractor technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.
The primary contractors will be Raytheon [RTN], Lockheed Martin [LMT], Boeing [BA], BAE Systems, General Electric [GE], General Dynamics [GD], Northrop Grumman [NOC], Rockwell Collins [COL], ViaSat [VSAT], and Data Link Solutions.
Finland will use the MLU equipment to extend the useful life of its F/A-18 fighter aircraft and enhance their survivability and communications connectivity, DSCA said.
“[Finland] needs this upgrade to keep pace with technology advances in sensors, weaponry, and communications,” the agency said in a statement.
Implementation of this sale will require multiple trips to Finland by an unnamed number of U.S. government and contractor representatives for technical reviews, support, and training.