Finland to buy short-range air defence system from Sweden

The Finnish Defence Forces will procure short-range RBS 70 NG ground-based air defence (GBAD) systems from the Swedish Saab, said the Ministry of Defence in a press release on Friday.

The ministry authorised the purchase with the view to strengthen the areal coverage of GBAD across Finland.

The RBS 70 NG is an advanced version of the Finnish Defence Forces’ mobile surface-to-air missile system ITO05M.

The features of the new system will improve Finland’s capabilities to counter both unmanned and manned aerial vehicles.

“We are developing Finland’s air defence system against a full range of threats. Safeguarding our preparedness requires appropriate and modern systems for each type of threat. This procurement is only one component of a larger package,” said Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen in the press release.

Regular personnel, conscripts and reservists will be trained mainly by the Salpausselkä Air Defence Battalion of the Karelia Brigade.

The procurement consists of munitions, training equipment and a maintenance system. Its overall value, without value added tax, is EUR 108 million.

The capability will be fully operational by the end of the 2020s.