New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia
This budget will be spent over the next four years and nearly doubles the country’s defence spending as part of GDP to 2%.
Finland calls for HX best and final offers
Competitors involved in the Finnish HX fighter acquisition programme have been issued with best and final offer requests, ahead of a contract award for one lucky manufacturer before the end of 2021.
The Finnish MoD has issued competitors with a request for HX best and final offers as it looks to replace a fleet of legacy Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornet aircraft.
Finland had initially expected to begin the best and final offer phase by the end of 2020 but those plans changed in light of COVID-19 complications and a need to wait on the Finnish parliament approving the state budget, according to Lauri Puranen, HX programme director at the Finnish MoD.
Offers from the US government (covering the F/A-18E/F Block III and F-35A Lightning II), France (Rafale), the UK (
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