Finland selling used artillery to Estonia
First cannons to be exhibited at Independence Day parade in Narva
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Finland is selling used artillery equipment to Estonia, which is reeling under economic duress. The cannons were already used when they were bought by Finland from Germany in the 1990s, when Finland was economically stretched.
The first 12 pieces of artillery will arrive in Estonia this week, so that they can be used in a parade in Narva on February 24th, Estonia’s Independence Day.
A total of 36 light field howitzers will go to Estonia, along with ammunition and equipment. Similar cannons will remain in use in Finland as well.
“They are very important for Estonia”, says Siim Toomik of the logistics department of the Estonian Defence Staff.
The artillery, which is being imported from Finland, will be used in military exercises at the Tapa garrison, and some of them will also be used to equip for two wartime artillery units.
“The 122-mm. cannons will replace the 105-mm. cannons that Estonia got from Finland as a donation in the late 1990s”, Toomik says.
Finland helped build the Estonian defence forces before Estonia joined NATO. Since then, Estonia has bought Finnish-made Pasi armoured vehicles, which Estonia is currently using in South Afghanistan.
Estonia is in a similar situation to that which Finland faced in the early 1990s. Early this year Estonia decided to cut its defence spending by EUR 43 million.
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 18.2.2009 - TODAY |
 Finland selling used artillery to Estonia |
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