Armée Finlandaise / Finnish Defence Forces / puolustusvoimat

Rappel du premier message :

une armée que j admire particulierement pour ses faits d armes lors de la Seconde Guerre Mondiale !

-Guerre d Hiver : 1939/1940
-Guerre de Continuation : 1944

Deux conflit mener contre l union Sovietique et qui donna au Forces armée finlandaises une renomées mondiale .

Guerre d hiver :

invasion sovietique de la Finlande qui opposa une resistance acharnée contre l envahisseur .

malgré un bilan sur le terrain qui lu fut favorable ,la Finlande se resigna a signer la paix devant la superiorité numerique et materiel ecrasante de l ennemie et signa le Traité de moscou qui la deposedé de plusieur de ses territoire .

Bilan du conflit :

Citation :

Union soviétique	Finlande
Commandants
Kliment Vorochilov Semion Timochenko	Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Hjalmar Siilasvuo
Forces en présence
1 000 000 d'hommes 3 000 chars 3 800 avions	250 000 hommes 30 chars 130 avions
Pertes
126 875 tués 264 908 blessés 3 100 prisonniers	26 662 tués 39 886 blessés 1 000 prisonniers

Territoires cedés a l Union Sovietique :

Citation :

La guerre d'Hiver : concessions territoriales finlandaises

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerre_d%27Hiver


Guerre de Continuation (1941/1944 ) :

Offensive Finlandaise contre l Union Sovietique en vue de recuperer les territoires perdu lors de la Guerre d Hiver .

offensive mener en parrallele de l offensive Allemande contre l Union Sovietique (operation Barbarossa).

une Alliance de circonstance entre L allemagne et la Finlande permit a cette derniere de recevoir une aide militaire (materiels de guerre et contingents Allemand ) .

Lors de ses offensive, la Finlande Reussi a recuperer ses territoire et plus encore mais la debacle de l allié allemand sur le Front Sovietique et encore une fois l ecrasante superiorité militaire Sovietique ,obligea la Finlande a signer l armistice avec cette derniere.

Citation :

Informations généralesDateLieuIssue

25 juin 1941 - 19 septembre 1944
Finlande, Carélie, Mourmansk
Paix séparée entre la Finlande et l'URSS
Belligérants
Finlande Allemagne Italie	Union Soviétique Royaume-Uni
Commandants
Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim Hjalmar Siilasvuo	Kirill Meretskov Leonid Govorov
Forces en présence
530 000 Finlandais 220 000 Allemands	900 000 à 1 500 000 hommes
Pertes
58 715 tués ou disparus 158 000 blessés 2 000 civils tués	200 000 tués ou disparus 385 000 blessés 190 000 hospitalisés pour cause de maladie 64 000 prisonniers

Citation :

Forces en présence finnoises, allemandes et soviétiques au début de la
guerre de Continuation, en juin 1941. Les frontières finlandaises en
clair sont celles antérieures au traité de paix de Moscou de 1940.

Citation :

L'avancée extrême des unités finlandaises pendant la guerre de
Continuation. Les frontières figurées sont celles d'avant et d'après la
guerre d'Hiver.

Citation :

Zones cédées à l'URSS par la Finlande.

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guerre_de_Continuation#L.27offensive_finlandaise_de_1941


Bref une histoire militaire passionnate pour ce petit pays de 5 million d habitant .
et une armée Finlandaise qui defendit heroiquement son integrité territoriale face au geant sovietique lui infligeants de serieux revers sur le terrain .

son default comparé au Caracal c´est qu´il porte pas de door-gun

je pense que les finlandais installeront des armes de sabord aux deux portes en opérations réelles

Citation :

SOURCE:Flight International
Aeronautics, BlueBird make last two in Finnish UAS contest

Israeli companies Aeronautics Defense Systems and BlueBird are the two final contenders in the Finnish armed forces' unmanned air system contest, with two other bidders having been removed from the running.

Respectively offering their Orbiter 2 and SpyLite systems, the remaining bidders are vying for a surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance programme requirement worth an estimated $25 million. A final selection is expected during November, with the winning company expected to deliver 30-45 unmanned systems under the deal.

Finland's latest move has eliminated two other bidders from the contest. Elbit Systems had been teamed with Patria to offer the former's Skylark LE design, while Polish manufacturer WB had promoted its FlyEye UAS.

Citation :

SOURCE:Flight Daily News
CMC upgraded Finnish air force Hawk Mk66 Trainer takes first flight


Canada's Esterline CMC Electronics upgraded Finnish air force Hawk Mk66 advanced trainer has taken its first flight. Patria selected CMC to provide its cockpit 4000 avionics suite upgrade to the service's fleet of Mk66 trainer aircraft. In January 2007, CMC also provided similar enhancements to the air force's Mk51 trainer aircraft. The air force will have a fleet of 26 upgraded Hawks, consisting 18 Mk66 and 8 Mk51 advanced trainers, said CMC.

The Hawks provide basic and advanced training at Kauhava air base for pilots of the Boeing F/A-18C and F/A-18D Hornet-equipped front-line team, added the company.

05-08-11 : Helsinki



le Hamina

RNLAF Open Days 2011

Finnish F-18

Citation :

The Finnish Defence Forces must save more than €800 million

When compared to the March 2011 so-called technical frame, the Finnish defence budget has been cut by a total of €575 million in the state's budget proposal for 2012 and the budget framework for 2013-2015. However, the actual amount that needs to be saved is around €825 million over the next four years, as the defence forces must find a way to save c. €150 million from its internal financing to cover the rise in expenses, and prepare to save a further €100 million in order to finance the defence forces' reform. That means on average 10 per cent every year.

THE BUDGET CUTS TO EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES WILL HAVE LONG-TERM EFFECTS

There is no one way to achieve savings. We must find ways of cutting costs from all areas: the Finnish Defence Forces' (FDF) routine activities, maintenance and replacement of FDF materiel as well as the maintenance of the organisation and structures. Because materiel procurements are bound by contracts, we cannot achieve immediate appreciable cost reductions in procurements. We can achieve savings in structures by axing activities and premises. This in turn will require two years of preparation even when the political decisions have been made if, say, we must close down a brigade-level unit. The downsizing of organisations and structures will pay off in 2015 at the earliest. Immediate savings can only be achieved by making reductions in the everyday functions of the Finnish Defence Forces.

The savings envisaged over the next four years will require reductions of the following magnitude (which may vary once planning has progressed):

• reducing the number of conscripts' field training exercises by a third
• dropping the number of refresher exercises to less than half
• significantly cutting the number of days Navy vessels spend at sea and the flight hours of Air Force fighter-interceptors.

These savings in FDF functions will have long-term repercussions on our defence capability. For example this will mean that the over 80,000 conscripts that will go into the reserve over the next four years will as troops have an insufficient capability throughout their time in the reserve. That is why it is imperative that in the defence reform the financing of everyday functions be returned to the level imposed by our requirements.

CUTS IN THE FINANCING OF MATERIEL WILL DIMINISH FINLAND'S DEFENCE CAPABILITY

For us to maintain our everyday activities even at a tolerable level, renewed materiel purchases related to the maintenance of our defence capability must be slashed immediately once this is technically possible. We will have to axe materiel funding much more radically than was originally foreseen.

Once the cuts will have been implemented, the Services materiel capacity and their so-called joint capabilities (such as command, logistics) run the risk of being under par, which in turn means they will not be able to operate together in the way required. The cuts would be especially devastating for the Army's regional forces, as their materiel was going to be updated in the coming years. Spending cuts mean we are taking a risk in regional defence.

POLITICAL DECISIONS ON THE DEFENCE REFORM NEEDED PROMPTLY

Because of the downsizing and savings, the defence forces' reform must be carried earlier than intended; the new organisation must be up and running from the beginning of 2015. However, this requires quick political decisions on the Finnish Defence Forces' new structure. Without these decisions, we cannot make the savings materialize.

Although the cut in the financing of renewed materiel procurement will leave a permanent scar in Finland's defence capability, the goal is to gain an entity where, on the one hand, financing and, on the other, the FDF's tasks and the expenses run by its everyday functions are in balance. The only way this balance can be achieved is by reducing the size of the Finnish Defence Forces considerably.

defpro

Citation :

Defence Forces look to tactical missiles





The Finnish Defence Forces are looking into the possible acquisition of ground-to-ground tactical missiles.
The missiles are part of a project to investigate the possibility of buying new ordnance for Finland’s rocket launchers and its 155 mm. artillery.
The missiles would be launched from heavy rocket launchers.

The Finnish Defence Staff says that decisions on the matter are to be made “in the coming years”.
The Defence Forces have already started the process of upgrading its heavy rocket launcher and firepower control systems.
The project, costing EUR 40 million, will be ready in 2014. After the changes, heavy rocket launchers can be used as launching pads for the missiles.

The upgrading of the rocket launchers will primarily apply to their computer programmes. “It will bring with it the ability to use modern ammunition. The control of firepower today largely involves software”, says Lieutenant-Colonel Pekka Purtonen of the Finnish Army Staff.
The topic of missiles is somewhat awkward for the Finnish military. The missiles in question would have a range of between 200 and 300 kilometres, and could reach as far as St. Petersburg.

The Defence Forces say that the extended range means that they would not have to be placed in the proximity of actual forces, and would therefore not be as vulnerable to enemy firepower.
However, the acquisition of the missiles is not a done deal. The Finnish military is expected to cut costs in the coming years, and Chief of Defence Ari Puheloinen has warned that military personnel might have to be reduced.

A firepower study was conducted in 2004 to seek out the most effective combination of weapons from a point of view of overall defence.
The best systems were found to be heavy rocket launchers, special artillery shells and air-to-ground missiles for the Air Force.
The proposals of the firepower study were not left at the level of mere recommendations. The first of the missiles installed on the F-18 Hornet jet fighters are already in the testing stage.

The missiles acquired for the Hornets have a range of several dozen kilometres. The Air Force would have wanted missiles with a much longer range, but the Untied States refused to sell them.
Finland bought used heavy rocket launchers in 2007. The aim of the acquisition was to offset the effects of the ban on personnel land mines by replacing them with cluster shells.
However, international opinion turned against cluster weapons as well, and Finland has since renounced their use. Consequently, Finland ended up with a costly weapons system without the intended ammunition.

www.hs.fi

Citation :

Finland – AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM)

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2011 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Oct. 28 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Finland for 70 AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $255 million.

The Government of Finland has requested a sale of 70 AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles (JASSM), 2 test vehicles, support and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated cost is $255 million.

The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a partner nation that remains an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. Finland is a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) Partnership for Peace as well as a member of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council. It additionally became a European Union member in 1995. Finnish troops have participated in UN peacekeeping activities since 1956, and the Finns continue to be one of the largest per capita contributors of peacekeepers in the world. Finland is an active participant in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and in early 1995 assumed the co-chairmanship of the OSCE's Minsk Group on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Finland chaired the OSCE in 2008 and was part of the Chairmanship Troika in 2009.

Finland intends to integrate the JASSM on its F/A-18C/D aircraft. Finland’s acquisition of JASSM is intended to modernize its current aircraft munitions suite and counter potential threats. This will contribute to the Finnish military’s goal of updating its capability. Finland will have no difficulty absorbing these missiles into its inventory.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin Industries in Tampa, Florida. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
...

http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2011/Finalnd_11-37.pdf

Citation :

Finland – Reprogrammable Micro-Processor (RMP) Block 1 Anti-Aircraft Missiles

WASHINGTON, Oct. 31, 2011 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Oct. 28 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Finland for 600 STINGER-Reprogrammable Micro-Processor (RMP) Block 1 Anti-Aircraft missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $330 million.

The Government of Finland has requested a possible sale of 600 STINGER-Reprogrammable Micro-Processor (RMP) Block 1 Anti-Aircraft missiles, 10 STINGER Block 1 Production Verification Flight Test missiles, 110 Gripstock Block 1 Control Groups, 1827 Battery Coolant Units, 16 Tracking Head Trainers (THT), 50 Field Handling Trainers (FHT), 2 GCU-31A/E Gas Charging Units, 110 Night Sights, 1 STINGER Troop Proficiency Trainer, 1 Launch Simulator, 16 THT metal containers, 16 FHT metal containers, refurbishment, upgrades, spare and repair parts, tools and tool sets, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $330 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been, and continues to be, an important force for economic progress in Northern Europe.

This proposed sale will enable Finland to modernize its armed forces and enhance its existing air defense architecture to counter threats posed by air attack. The proposed sale will provide Finland a defensive capability while enhancing interoperability with the U.S. and other allied forces. Finland will have no difficulty absorbing this additional capability into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be Raytheon Missile Systems in Tucson, Arizona. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
...

http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2011/Finalnd_11-42.pdf

Citation :

Patria delivers first modernised Hawk Mk 66 aircraft to the Finnish Air Force

(Photo: MILAVIA Military Aviation, Niels Hillebrand)

Patria a major centre of aviation expertise

17:09 GMT, November 17, 2011 In a recent handover ceremony in Kauhava, Patria delivered the first of a series of modified, ultramodern twin-seat Hawk Mk 66 aircraft to the Finnish Air Force. Working closely with the Finnish Air Force, Patria has assumed responsibility for the specification, design and implementation of all system integration for the modernisation project, which will span three years.

In 2007, the Finnish Air Force purchased 18 pre-owned Hawk Mk66s from Switzerland. These supplemented the Hawk Mk 51/51A fleet purchased earlier. In 2009, this was followed up by an order placed with Patria, for an extensive cockpit and avionics upgrade of the aircraft. The upgrade includes the replacement of all important avionics devices and cockpit display systems by new digital IT systems. The design is based on the upgrade already implemented on MK 51/51A aircraft. Under the current programme, Patria is also responsible for developing software for the aircraft’s mainframe, the Mission Computer.

This year, Patria will deliver six modified aircraft to the FiAF, to be followed by eight more aircraft next yeadefpror. According to the plan, all 18 aircraft will be modernized and delivered during the course of 2013.

Logistique et Maintenance

Citation :

Reform of the Finnish Defence Forces to Start

Finnish NH90 landing on a mountaintop near Bardufoss. (Photo: Finnish Defence Forces)

15:14 GMT, February 8, 2012 In their meeting on 8 February, the President of the Republic and the Cabinet Committee on Foreign and Security Policy discussed the Finnish Defence Forces Reform, based on the proposal put forward by the Chief of Defence. The implementation of the Defence Forces Reform will now be started under the guidance of the Ministry of Defence.

The reform is to be completed by the beginning of 2015 and the main goal is to ensure that the Defence Forces will continue to be able to fulfil their tasks and maintain Finland's military defence capabilities into the 2020s. The reform is geared to maintain the Defence Forces' current tasks, to ensure the functioning of general conscription, and to develop defence capabilities on the basis of territorial defence.

By doing so, the Defence Forces aim to meet the EUR 200 million savings target set out in the Government Programme. One third of the defence budget is allocated to defence materiel procurement and development of capabilities, another third to cover personnel expenses, and the final third to finance operational costs and facilities.

According to the proposal, the reform will cut down the wartime troops of the Finnish Defence Forces and reduce the number of personnel significantly. With the abolishing of military provinces, the new organisation will have three levels. A number of brigade-level units, centres and other entities will be closed down or combined. Unnecessary and less important areas and properties will be given up. Personnel will be treated in line with principles on good employer practice. Cooperation will be done with other ministries and authorities to mitigate regional impact.

Finland's defence is based on general conscription and will continue to be so. The system is to be developed, i.a., on the basis of the ‘Siilasmaa report’. The whole territory of Finland will be defended.

The Ministry of Defence will issue the Defence Forces a letter of guidance on the planned reform in February 2012. Legislative preparations will be carried out so that legislative proposals can be submitted to Parliament during the autumn session of 2012. A certain part of the administrative changes are to be implemented by the end of 2013 and the main part by the end of 2014. The new Defence Forces organisation is to be up and running from the beginning of 2015.

defpro

Citation :

Finland Orders Air-to-Surface Missiles From Lockheed Martin
By Kasper Viita - Mar 1, 2012 3:36 PM GMT+0100

Finnish defense forces agreed to buy long-range cruise missiles from Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT) as it extends the life of its aircraft fleet.

The order is valued at 178.5 million euros ($238 million) with payments spread over six years, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement.

“These updates aim to extend the lifespan of the fleet as far as possible,” Lieutenant General Mika Peltonen, the operative chief of the Defense Command, said by phone.

The deal consists of AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, along with the necessary software, technical documentation and training for the country’s F-18 Hornet fleet.

Finland has 62 F/A-18 Hornet planes. The planes were ordered in 1992 and were initially not planned for air-to-ground armament.

The government will face a confidence vote tomorrow in parliament over defense force cutbacks, including a decrease of 2,200 in army personnel by 2015.

Bloomberg

rappel

Citation :

..
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress Oct. 28 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Finland for 70 AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $255 million.

Citation :

Copyright : Finnish Air Force, Frank Crébas
28 Mar. 2012

Fighter jets secure airspace of the Baltic countries


08:58, 28 March 2012 – the claxon shrieks at Tampere Air Base in Finland. Four minutes later, two F-18 Hornet fighter jets from the Finnish Air Force take off. Their mission – to intercept an aircraft that is not complying with international air traffic regulations. Since the attacks of 11 September 2001, the surveillance of European airspace is a sensitive topic for the Alliance member States and their partners.


“An unidentified aircraft has just entered Finnish airspace. It does not communicate in line with international standards. That’s why I will go up and see what is happening,” says First Lieutenant Mikko K., pilot of a Finnish Air Force F-18 Hornet fighter jet.

His mission – to positively identify the aircraft behaving unusually and intercept it in compliance with the air safety measures as ordered by his national Air Operations Centre at Tampere, Finland. Today, this is a training scenario.

Since 2008, Headquarters Allied Air Command at Ramstein, Germany has organised these training events in the Baltic region to practice the air policing skills of Allied air and ground crews. Today, the training involves NATO air assets – two German F-4F interceptors and one Lithuanian C-27 transport plane – as well as two F-18 fighter jets from Finland, a member state of the Partnership for Peace programme established by the Alliance in 1994. This is the first time Finland has been involved in this event. On 27 March, the day before, the same training scenario involved a Swedish Air Force JAS Gripen fighter jet.

The aircraft’s suspicious behaviour is detected by the duty controller in the Finnish Air Operations Centre. Once the aircraft heads towards NATO airspace, it alerts its counterpart at NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem, Germany.

“The centre in Finland has informed me that the plane – a C-27 transport plane – has lost radio communications with the Civilian Aviation Authorities and has deviated from its flight plan and is now heading toward NATO airspace,” says the duty controller at Uedem, Lieutenant-Colonel Frank P.

nato

FNS UUSIMAA

Exercice Frisian Flag 2012

Citation :

Finland picks Orbiter 2 for UAS requirement

Finland's defence ministry has selected Aeronautics Defense Systems' Orbiter 2 unmanned air system (UAS) for its operational needs.

A €23 million ($30 million) contract is in the final approval phase and is expected to be signed soon.

© Aeronautics Defense Systems Finland will acquire a system from the Orbiter family of air vehicles

According to Finnish sources, the deal will include 55 mini UAS, with the acquisition aimed at giving the nation's armed forces a new surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance capability.

The final phase of the competition was between two Israeli-made systems - the Orbiter 2 and BlueBird's SpyLite.

The selected design has a 3m (9.8ft) wing span, 1m-long fuselage, and a 3.5h endurance up to an altitude of 18,000ft.

Maximum take-off weight is 9.5kg (20.9lb), with the air vehicle carrying an electro-optical/infrared sensor payload.

.flightglobal

Citation :

New Mine Countermeasure Vessel Handed Over to the Finnish Navy


(Photo: Finnish Navy)

14:49 GMT, May 7, 2012 The first one of the three mine countermeasure vessels ordered by the Finnish Navy, MHC (Mine Hunter Coastal) Katanpää was handed over to the Finnish Navy.

The vessel was accepted by the Commander of the Finnish Navy, Rear Admiral Veli-Jukka Pennala at the Intermarine shipyard in La Spezia, Italy.

The vessel will be shipped to its home base in Turku, where it is expected to arrive at the end of May.

The vessel will be presented to the public for the first time on July 9th, during the anniversary of the Navy celebrations.

NEW CLASS OF VESSEL

The Katanpää class vessels will provide the Finnish Navy with a new kind of mine countermeasure capacity, which will, in addition to the present contact mine and influence mine clearing capacity, enable the Navy to conduct mine hunting and mine demolition tasks.

The Katanpää class vessels are mainly aimed for domestic use. The vessels’ systems can also be used in executive assistance, for e.g. in mapping the seabed, under-water searches and identification and in defusing under-water explosives.

The vessels are EU and NATO interoperable, and, therefore, improve Finland's chances of participating in international crisis management operations.

defpro

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Elbit Systems Awarded Initial Contract to Supply Advanced Dismounted Soldier Systems to Finnish Army


MARS thermal imaging camera. (Photo: Elbit Systems)

08:14 GMT, May 29, 2012 Haifa, Israel | Elbit Systems Ltd. ("Elbit Systems") announced May 28 that it was awarded a contract by the Finnish Army, to supply advanced dismounted soldier systems, in the first phase of a comprehensive ISTAR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance) program. The initial award is not in an amount that is material to Elbit Systems.

The solution offered by Elbit Systems includes enhanced observation soldier equipment (MARS), comprehensive situation awareness software, cutting edge combat soldier wearable radio (PNR1000) and computer systems intended to enhance the operational capabilities of the Finnish Army in the areas of reconnaissance, terrain dominance and dismounted soldiers. It will also support the Finnish Army in developing new combat doctrines, and as a basis for developing its future forward observation program.

Bezhalel (Butzi) Machlis, General Manager of Elbit Systems’ Land and C4I Division, commented: "We are proud that Finland, a NATO Partner of Peace, has selected our systems following a rigorous competition, including field testing in Lapland. This win affirms yet again our leadership as a supplier of advanced solutions for soldier systems.”

defpro

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Finland – Army Tactical Missile Systems M-39 Block 1A

WASHINGTON, June 4, 2012 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress June 1 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Finland for 70 M-39 Block 1A Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) T2K Unitary Missiles and associated parts, equipment, logistical support and training for an estimated cost of $132 million.

The Government of Finland has requested a possible sale of 70 M-39 Block 1A Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) T2K Unitary Missiles, Missile Common Test Device software, ATACMS Quality Assurance Team support, spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical data, U.S. government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $132 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.

Finland intends to use these defense articles and services to expand its existing army architecture and improve its self-defense capabilities. This will contribute to the Finnish Defense Forces’ goal of modernizing its capability while further enhancing interoperability between Finland, the United States, and other allies.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Dallas, Texas. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require up to two U.S. Government or contractor representatives to travel to Finland for up to one week for equipment de-processing/fielding, system checkout, and training.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

DSCA