Finland, Sweden sign deal on handguns acquisition

Finland and Sweden have concluded a framework agreement on the acquisition of a common handgun family, said Finnish Defence Forces in a press release on Monday.

The agreement was signed among the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration FMV, the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command and SAKO Oy.

When making use of the framework agreement, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and the Defence Forces Logistics Command will make their own orders directly to SAKO Oy.

Both countries will manage their own orders. The countries will aim to schedule their procurements at the same time to achieve volume benefits.

The terms of the framework agreement also apply to the Finnish Border Guard, Finnish Customs, the Prison and Probation Service of Finland and the police authorities. These must have their own appropriate criteria for direct award of contracts when using the agreement.

The framework agreement is valid for 10 years and can be extended by three seven-year option periods until 2053.