Finland spending EUR 500 million on new air defence system

Kaskeala: “Instead of one Cadillac we bought four Volvos”

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Finland has decided to buy a new US-Norwegian air defence system that is in use in NATO countries.
      The total price for the system, which includes a new radar system, will exceed EUR 520 million - without VAT.
      The purchase is the biggest for the Finnish Defence Forces since the Air Force acquired US-built F-18 Hornet jet fighters. Plans are to buy even more missiles in the next electoral term, at a cost of EUR 120 million.
     
Minister of Defence Jyri Häkämies (Nat. Coalition Party) emphasised on Wednesday that the purchases will not increase the defence budget, as the EUR 700 million set aside for it has already been taken into account.
      “Compensative purchases will cover the acquisition costs. Half of the sum will go to domestic manufacturers, and the other half will be covered by international industrial cooperation”, Häkämies said.
      According to the Ministry of Defence, the missile project will guarantee 1,000 person-work years in Finland. For instance, the defence contractor Patria will build the missile launchers and Sisu Defence will build the vehicles for the missile system.
      Finnish manufacturers will also have the possibility to export parts of the NASAMS II, and other technology. The contract for the deal is to be signed in the autumn, and deliveries will begin in 2011. Training of conscripts for the use of the new system begins in 2012 in Parola near Hämeenlinna.
     
The missiles will replace the Soviet built medium-range Buk missiles, which were set up to protect the Helsinki region. They will grow obsolete by 2016.
      Air Force inspector, Colonel Rauno Lankila says that the updating of the Buk system would have cost half of the price of a new system.
     
NASAMS II is in use in Norway and The Netherlands. The earlier version of it is in use in Norway, Spain, and the United States.
      Chief of Defence Juhani Kaskeala pointed out that the system has protected Washington DC.
      “Instead of one Cadillac, we bought four Volvos. Now we are getting more missiles than with the other option”, Kaskeala said, explaining why the Norwegian manufacturer was chosen over a French-Italian rival.
      Kaskeala noted that in addition to Norway, Sweden has has a battle command centre from the same manufacturer, which makes it easier for Nordic EU combat forces to arrange a common air defence.
     
The Defence Forces are also planning to upgrade Finland’s defence radar system.
      Air Force commander, Major General Jarmo Lindberg notes that the present technology of Finland’s radar surveillance system is from the 1960s. “Radars are cut off every week, and the surveillance minimum is not reached”.
      To replace the old radars, Finland is getting 12 portable radars from the French Thales-Raytheon at a cost of EUR 145 million.


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Government plans to replace Russian anti-aircraft missiles with NATO version (16.1.2009)

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