Finland To Modernize Counter Artillery Systems, Projectiles

Finland has considered modernizing its armed forces with counter artillery systems and high-precision projectiles.

In upcoming years, Finland plans to acquire counter artillery radar systems, which was unknown to the Nordic country's forces armed forces. The effectiveness of such systems has been observed during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, where 85 percent of casualties were reportedly caused by artillery fire.

“In order to make radar sytsem active by 2020, we are aiming to accelerate the acquisition schedule.” a Finnish Armed Forces artillery inspector Colonel Pasi Pasivirta sai was quoted as saying by Finnish daily Helsingin Sanomat.

By Pasivirta's estimations, the choice is between six to seven companies, including Sweden's Saab, Israel's Elta Systems and the US' Raytheon.

The Finnish Defense Forces have made an open request that Russia can participate in the tender. However, Pasivirta declined to assess what the Russians could offer.

The overall price tag for the new system is expected to run into tens of millions of euros. The final price will be determined by the scope of the system bought.

Similarly "the Finnish Armed Forces are seeking high-precision ammunition for their artillery. Finland is prepared to study the market for homing missiles and is preparing a market survey, to begin with," Pasivirta added.

Generally speaking, we are examining future projectiles to secure both long range and high precision," Pasi Pasivirta said.

The plans of Finish Armed Forces also include the re-introduction of anti-submarine torpedoes, for the first time since World War II. The Finnish Navy's four Hamina-class missile-capable fast attack craft (FAC) will receive a torpedo fit as part of an overall mid-life upgrade program expected to run between 2019 and 2021.