Finnish Border Guard Do228 replacement programme

The Rajavartiolaitos (Finnish Border Guard) will replace the two ageing Dornier Do228 surveillance aircraft with two new multipurpose aircraft during 2026-2027. According to the Border Guard, the new aircraft will be jet powered.

The replacement programme, better known as the MVX programme, is now in the intermediate Request for Quotation (RFQ) phase. In this phase, the offered aircraft are evaluated and contract terms are negotiated with the prime candidates.

Details of the MVX programme reveal that the following types of aircraft have been offered: Bombardier Challenger 650, Dassault Falcon 2000LXS and Cessna Citation Longitude. The surveillance equipment companies that have teamed up are: Field Aerospace, L3Harris Technologies, Sierra Nevada Corporation and St Airborne Systems.

The first round of negotiations will take place in the summer of 2023 and, if necessary, more rounds of negotiations will be held in the fall of 2023. The goal is to conclude a procurement contract with the selected supplier by the end of 2023.

Photo by Harri Koskinen (via flyFinland.fi)