Premier Fighter Jet Replacement Candidates Flock to Finnish Centenary Air Show

Today's air show in Helsinki will become one of the most exciting and ambitious events of Finland's centenary, as fighter jets will fly over the Finnish capital. However, the air show will also serve as a demonstration, as the Finnish air force is currently in the process of choosing a new fighter jet.

The free air show in Helsinki's Kaivopuisto Park is part of Finland's 100-year anniversary celebrations and is expected to draw around 100,000 viewers.

While the show will feature aviation history, as well as an aerobatic display by the British Red Arrows, which ranks among the world's premier flying performance teams, Helsinki's skies will be filled with some of the world's most advanced fighters, such as the US Super Hornet, the EU Eurofighter Typhoon and the Swedish Gripen. Their presence at the show is coincidence, since all three of them are being considered by the Finnish Air Force as a replacement for the outdated fleet of F-18 Hornets currently in use as its foundation. While approaching their "best before" date, these fighters will also take part in the aerobatics display.

#Kaivopuisto'n edustalla jyrisee, kun suuri ilmailunäytös alkaa. Livelähetys #HSTV'ssä klo 14: https://t.co/23zZBsB433 #ilmailu #lentokoneet pic.twitter.com/AwNU3hzr6m

— HSTV (@hstvfi) 9 июня 2017 г.

​At the show in Helsinki, Boeing will present a deck fighter-bomber and an attack aircraft of the F/A-18 E Super Hornet class, which is an updated version of the F/A-18 Hornet currently used in Finland and is considered to be one of the main contenders. This idea is heavily supported by the commander of the Armed Forces, Juhani Kaskeala, according to whom the new generation of the Hornet is easiest to adapt to for pilots, the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported.

Furthermore, Helsinki residents and city guests will also be able to catch a glimpse of the Swedish multirole fourth-gen fighter JAS 39 Gripen developed by Saab. In addition to their country of origin Sweden, these are also in service in the Czech Republic, Hungary, South Africa and Thailand.

The Eurofighter Typhoon, which has been developed and manufactured by a European consortium featuring the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Spain, is currently in service in Germany, Italy, Spain, Great Britain, Austria and Saudi Arabia.

#Eurofighter #Typhoon'it saapuivat #HelsinkiAirport'lle. #Kaivopuisto'n #lentonäytös lähestyy… pic.twitter.com/E9TL7KBvuh

— lentoposti.fi (@lentopostifi) 8 июня 2017 г.

​The two other replacement options, which will not be shown in Helsinki, are the F-35 by US manufacturer Lockheed Martin and the French Rafale. Earlier this year, Finnish Defense Minister Jussi Niinistö declared additional measures to block contacts with lobbyists and add transparency to the process of competitive selection.

The goal of replacing the 60 F-18s currently in use is set to become one of the biggest purchases in Finnish history at up to $20 billion sand will be finalized in 2021. The aircraft are expected to be put into service by 2030.

All in all, 80 aircraft of different generations will be put on display in Helsinki. What makes the air show all the more unique is that it was last organized at Kaivopuisto in 1955.

"Last time such a display was arranged over the sea and it happened in the 1970s," organizer Perttu Karivalo told the Finnish newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet.

What a perfect #summer day we have in #Helsinki today! 🙂💚☀️
📸: ninibrigitte (IG) #myhelsinki #finland #kaivopuisto pic.twitter.com/9yMuMRZk59

— Visit Helsinki (@VisitHelsinki) 7 июня 2017 г.