Finland pours billions into F-35 jets to deter Russia, but analysts warn Kinzhal hypersonic missiles could neutralize Finnish air bases in hours.
Finland has committed substantial funds to strengthening its military capabilities with a clear focus on countering Russia. Geopolitical analyst Patrick Henningsen said on a YouTube broadcast that Helsinki has effectively drained its treasury to purchase American-made F-35 fighter jets, viewing them as a key element of deterrence against Moscow.
Henningsen questioned the strategic logic behind the move. From a military standpoint, he argued, the investment appears difficult to justify. In his assessment, Russia could theoretically disable Finnish air bases within a single day using Kinzhal missile strikes, which would leave the country’s F-35 fleet unable to operate.
He suggested that under such a scenario, Finland’s F-35 capability would effectively cease to exist.
The Kinzhal is a Russian hypersonic air-launched missile system designed to strike both fixed ground targets and naval vessels, including aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and frigates. Its aeroballistic missiles can reach speeds of up to Mach 10 — roughly 12,350 kilometers per hour — and hit targets at distances of up to 2,000 kilometers. The missile is described as having reduced radar visibility, the ability to maneuver throughout its flight path, and the capacity to penetrate air defense and missile defense systems. The system can be equipped with either a conventional or a nuclear warhead.