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Finland selected Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd to provide an air-defense system that will plug a hole in the weaponry of Nato’s newest member at the cost of €316 million ($346 million).
A neighbour to Russia with a 1,300-kilometre (800-mile) border, the Nordic country is currently missing high-altitude interception capability after decommissioning the BUK system acquired decades ago from the Soviet Union.
Finland announced the purchase a day after completing its accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (Nato), and just a day before its government is due to resign following elections. Joining the military alliance followed a U-turn in public opinion after Russia’s decision to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine about a year ago. That war also increased the urgency of the procurement.
Finland can already defend itself against missiles with a relatively low-altitude Nasams system as well as projectiles launched by its Hornet F/A-18 fighter jets. Ordering the ground-based David’s Sling system will “significantly†extend the operational range of its air-defense capabilities, according to a statement from Finland’s Ministry of Defense on Wednesday.
The minimum flight altitude requirement of the system was set at 15,000 meters in the request for quotation.
“This acquisition will create a new capability for the Finnish Defense Forces to intercept targets at high altitude, Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said.
The deal comes on top of other major defense expenditure, including a €10 billion procurement in late 2021 of F-35A fighter jets from Lockheed Martin Corp to replace the aging Hornets.