Finnish Airforce has decided to buy 2 EADS CASA C-295M Transport planes in order to support RDF and Peace keeping operations.
Loosing competitor was Alenia C-27J "Spartan"
Both planes were subjected to intensive testing program in Finnish winter conditions. Both planes passed the tests, but EADS offered a better
price.
I would have thought the C27J was more suited to the mission by being more structurally solid, or rugged, being designed as it was as a rough field
VTOL troop transport while the C-295 was only designed as a commuter airliner.
The transports will only be used to ferry RDF troops and top brass around and in Para training
no need to operate from bad runways in peace time and would you want to use ANY transport plane to do paradrops against Russian army? (Helos are much
better for that)
ps I nor the FDF has nothing against Russia, but it still isour main threat