On Friday, Finland announced that it will order 64 copies of the F-35 Lightning II fighter aircraft.

The deal with the world's largest weapons manufacturer, American Lockheed Martin, will be Finland's largest arms deal to date, sources told SVT on Wednesday.

Saab had hoped to get the contract for its Gripen fighter jets and Global Eye fighter and surveillance aircraft - a deal worth € 10 billion.

But what was not said at the Finnish government's press conference on Friday was that Saab's aircraft were not Finland's second choice.

In second place was the American Boeing F / A-18 Super Hornet, sources tell SVT.

Finland has had American fighter jets since the mid-1990s and is used to using them.

Boeing's current Hornet plan will be replaced by 2030.

The American F-35A Lightning II received the highest rating from Finland.

Photo: US Air Force

The points scale

Finland rated the capabilities of the aircraft types by giving them five tactical and strategic missions.

There were targets in the air, on land, at sea, intelligence gathering and the ability to strike with long range.

Lookheed Martin's F-35 got the highest score: 4.5 out of 5 possible.

American Boeing's Super Hornet got the second highest: 3.8 out of 5 points.

Saab Gripen's score is unclear and the company neither denies nor confirms that it ended up in third place.

- We have no reason to comment further on Finland's reasons for choosing another manufacturer.

We have to refer these types of issues to the Finnish procurement authority, says Mattias Rådström, press manager at Saab.

Rådström says that Saab found out about Finland's decision in connection with the press conference on Friday.

- We still think we had a very strong offer with Gripen and Global Eye, he says.

Saab's press manager Mattias Rådström Photo: Saab AB

Boeing: "Disappointed"

The world's third largest arms manufacturer, American Boeing, neither confirms nor denies SVT's information that they became number two - before Saab's Gripen.

- We are disappointed with Finland's decision.

However, we are confident in the next generation capabilities and unique value that the F / A-18 Block III Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler provide, comments a spokesperson at the central level.

Nor are those responsible for procurement in Finland confirming or denying SVT's information.

The other candidates were British Eurofighter Typhoon and French Dassault Rafale.