Finnish F/A-18C Hornet in a “early” form.
Finland chose to buy Hornets to replace aging Drakens and MiG-21BIS interceptors in the 90s with first Hornets arriving to Finland in 1995 in form of D variant Hornets which were twin seat variants.
All of the Finnish F/A-18C Hornets were built in Finland by Patria, 5 of the D variants came from USA.
There are a few Hornets that could be added to Finnish tree in Swedish tree, the C and D. And MLU Upgrades.
There already exists a suggestion for the F/A-18C MLU 2, and I recently made suggestion for the original variant which rolled out from Patria lines. MLU 1 needs to be suggested still. I will focus on Finnish ships now.
Could carry 12 missiles max.
According to state reported publicly available arms transfer data and other sources, Finland has the following air to air missiles for Hornets:
AIM-9M
AIM-9X
AIM-120A
AIM-120B
AIM-120C ?
AIM-120C7
AIM-120C8
AIM-120D ?
Question marks mean that I am not 100% sure they were used or are yet in service.
Finnish F/A-18C Early (1995-2006)
Armament:
- M61A1 Vulcan
- AIM-9M
- AIM-120A
- Dumb Bombs
- Rocket Pods
Misc: - AN/APG-73 Radar
- Standard 120 countermeasures
- Standard F/A-18C Equipment
Below are the two Mid Life Upgrade variants that can be added in future.
F/A-18C MLU 1 (2006-2012)
Armament:
- Same stuff as before
- AIM-120C
- AIM-9X
Misc:
- JHMCS Helmet Mounted Sight
- Moving tactical map display (Tactical Aircraft Moving Map Capability, TAMMAC)
- Better Identification friend-or-foe interrogator
- New communication radios
F/A-18C MLU 2 (2012-now)
Armament:
- Same stuff as before
- AIM-120C7
- AIM-120C8
- JASSM
- JSOW
- JDAM
- SDB II
Misc:
- Link 16 datalink
- Litening targeting pod
- BOL chaff/flare dispensers
- Installation of liquid crystal displays and other cockpit updates
- Sensor suite updates
- New GPS
Sources:
- All Finnish Air Force’s Hornets Upgraded to MLU 2 - The Finnish Air Force (in English)
- Development of Finland’s air defence capability - Ilmavoimat - The Finnish Air Force (in Englihs)
- https://ilmavoimat.fi/documents/1951206/2016308/Finnish+Air+Force+Fact+Sheet+-+FA-18CD+Hornet+(JAN+18).pdf/6eb2f056-12a1-4182-ae1a-3705e8a25b47/Finnish+Air+Force+Fact+Sheet+-+FA-18CD+Hornet+(JAN+18).pdf?t=1514888009000 (In English)
- History of the Finnish Air Force - Ilmavoimat - The Finnish Air Force (in English)
- Arms transfer database