Puolustusministeri Jan-Erik Enestam Kuorevedellä 57. F-18C Hornet -torjuntahävittäjän luovutustilaisuudessa 8.8.2000

Minister of Defence Jan-Erik Enestam Kuorevesi 8.8.2000 Ladies and Gentlemen, On behalf of the Finnish Ministry of Defence I would like to warmly welcome you all to this roll-out ceremony of the 64th Finnish Air Force F-18 Hornet aircraft.

This is a joyful day for all of us who are involved in the Hornet team, as all our new fighters have successfully been delivered and handed over to the user, the Finnish Air Force. I am very happy that you all are here with me today witnessing this historic milestone.

As you know a lot has been accomplished in a short time exactly as planned on schedule and within the budget. McDonnell-Douglas F-18 Hornet fighter was selected for the Finnish Air Force in May 1992 and the first contract between the US Navy and the Government of Finland was signed shortly afterwards on the 5th of June 1992. The first Finnish Air Force Hornet aircraft flew in St Louis in April 1995 and in November that year the first 4 two seaters arrived to Satakunta Air Command. The delivery of the first Patria Finavitec assembled aircraft took place in 1996 and today the final assembly of all 57 C models has been completed. Patria Finavitec has proven it's proficiency and delivered the fighters well ahead of schedule. This is an excellent reference thinking about the future transport helicopter procurement and possible the final assembly of all Nordic helicopters.

This vital and in Finnish scale exceptionally massive program, total cost being equal to approximately two annual defence budgets, has been carefully followed by the Finnish tax payers and politicians alike. Every substantial change has been closely scrutinized by Finnish news media. When the decision was made in 1992, the recession was about to start. Therefore, later the timing was criticized, as well as the content of the procurement. But undisputably, the decision had to be made at that time and the number of aircrafts had to be that numerous in order for Finland to have a credible air defence as the aging MiGs and Drakens had to be phased out. Thanks to you all, the Finnish program has proceeded exactly as planned and today we have a modern and efficient fleet.

Co-operation between the Finnish and the U.S. authorities as well as the U.S. companies has been excellent and have been conducted in a mutually supportive atmosphere. The program has increased the knowledge and understanding of all parties in the areas of security policy, military professionalism and deepened good relations between the U.S. and Finnish citizens involved into this program.

As the result of this program also a lot of valuable know-how and high technology has been transferred to Finland. Knowing the potential that exists in Finland it would be a shame to loose the links between our continents. Knowing also that Finnish Industry is economically and technically competitive and that the F-18 fighters will be in operational use for more than 30 years and there is also a need for mid-life update, the created cooperation should be utilized during the existing lifetime and should stay as strong as it is today. This is a challenge also to the US Industry.

I would also like to mention the Finnish Offset, or as it is nowadays called , the Industrial Participation Program. McDonnell-Douglas, later Boeing and the whole Offset Team have fulfilled the whole Offset Obligation well ahead of time. This key accomplishment means that Offset Team has accomplished its task two years ahead of schedule. With your outstanding support and leadership the Finnish F-18 program has proceeded forward and brought to its completion with a remarkable level of performance and competence.

I would once again like to thank you for all you have done. We must keep up the good work also in the future remembering that this is not the end but the beginning of something totally new - a relationship that we will continue to carefully foster for many years to come.

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