Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military
From: jsuo@niksula.hut.fi (Jyrki Juhani Suokas)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Finnish arms
Message-ID: <15382@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 10 Apr 90 02:02:15 GMT
References: <15266@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM
Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland
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From: jsuo@niksula.hut.fi (Jyrki Juhani Suokas)
>From: henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer)
>>From: Erich J Smythe <"ANDREW::esmythe"@ATL.dnet.ge.com>
>>I just read in AvLeak that Finland is negotiating to buy SU-27's or
>>Mig-29's to replace the Mig-21's that they currently own.  The also
>>have sent out an RFP for the F-16, Mirage 2000, and Gripen JAS-39...
>>Rather interesting inventory mix they have.

>As neutrals, they've always preferred not to become dependent on
>either
>side for weaponry.  (This might even be required by treaty, I'm not
>sure.)
>
>                                    Henry Spencer at U of Toronto
>				    Zoology
>                               uunet!attcan!utzoo!henry henry@zoo.toronto.edu

About the planes :Yes, our Air Force is going to buy about 20 Mig-29:s
in the near future and best guess about the other planes is the F-16
Fighting Falcon for following reasons : It's been in production for
well over 10 years , it's been tested in cold weather conditions
(Norwegian Air Force has them) and they seem to think it is best
suited for our needs.Mirage 2000 is pretty new plane and for example
it has not been tested in cold weather.They had a test series in
Northern Lappland in Rovaniemi last month but the weather was pretty
mild so a whole lot of info didn't come out of those tests.I think the
JAS-39 Gripen is out of it because of the prototype planes crash and
other reasons too.

It is in our countrys foreign policy not in any treaties to byu
military ordnance from both east and west.And we make a whole lot
ourselves (the best mortars in the world come from Tampella).

All opinions expressed above all totally my own not reflecting any
official policies.
--

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 :  JYRKI SUOKAS                                                            :
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