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2022

05.03.2022 09:00

Progress in building high-altitude capability of Finnish air defence

Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen has decided to continue negotiations with two companies to develop high-altitude capability of Finland’s ground-based air defence. 


In October 2020, the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command sent out invitations to tender on high-altitude capability to five companies: Diehl Defence (Germany), Israel Aerospace Industries (Israel), Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (Norway), MBDA (United Kingdom) and Rafael Advanced Systems (Israel).  Finland received preliminary tenders in November 2021, concluding the first round of negotiations in the project to develop high-altitude capability of Finland’s ground-based air defence. The tenders were evaluated with a specific emphasis on the performance of the offered surface-to-air missile systems. Based on the evaluation, Finland has decided to continue the negotiations with two companies: Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael Advanced Systems.


The aim is to make the procurement decision on the selected system in early 2023.


The procurement of high-altitude capability is part of Finland’s overall air defence capacity and a broader project to develop it. With the project, Finland intends to improve its high-altitude air defence capability and significantly increase the range of its ground-based air defence. High-altitude capability will be built by procuring a system of surface-to-air missiles that enables interception in all altitudes. The procurement may include subsystems such as missile launchers, radars, missiles and related integrations. 


The Government’s Defence Policy Report in 2021 outlined that Finland will improve its high-altitude capability and increase the volume coverage of its ground-based air defence by procuring a surface-to-air missile system during the period of the report. 


Inquiries: Senior Adviser Frans Peltonen, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 021; and Inspector of Air Defence, Colonel Mikko Mäntynen, Army Command Finland, tel. +358 299 800 (switchboard).



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