Tel Aviv: Finland, the new NATO member will purchase the Israeli made David’s Sling air defence system. The Ministry of Defence has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to procure the David’s Sling system as the next long-range air defence system of Finland. Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems will deliver the system. The value of the procurement without value added tax is approximately Euro 316 million.
The David’s Sling system will extend the operational range of Finland’s ground-based air defence capabilities significantly. The minimum flight altitude requirement of the system was set at 15,000 meters in the request for quotation.
According to the Finnish government this acquisition will create a new capability for the Finnish Defence Forces to intercept targets at high altitude. “At the same time we are continuing the ambitious and long-term development of Finland’s defence capability in a new security environment,” Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen said.
The procurement consists of a main contract worth approximately Euro 213 million excluding value added tax and the immediate exercise of options linked to the main contract worth Euro 103 million excluding value added tax. The contract includes further options worth Euro 216 excluding value added tax. The possible exercise of these options requires a separate decision.
The procurement contract will include a separate part between the Israel Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Defence of Finland to ensure the security of supply of the system. The arrangement will ensure the availability of critical system components in all security situations.
The David’s Sling system is a long-range air defence system jointly developed by Israel and the United States. The sale of the system to Finland will require a sales release by the United States Government. Finnish industry, together with Rafael and Raytheon, will participate in the integration of the system and in the planning and equipping of the command and control elements.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
