Finland to buy counter-artillery radars

Minister of Defense Jussi Niinisto has authorized Finnish Defense Forces’ Logistics Command on January 11, 2018 to acquire counter-battery radars.

In a statement made Friday, the Finnish Ministry of Defense reported that the acquisition of new counter-battery radars will significantly increase Finnish artillery’s counter-battery efficiency, thereby also degrading enemy firepower.

Radar systems, training systems and spare parts for the counter-battery radars will be procured from Israeli ELTA Systems company.

The Finnish Defense Forces declined to comment on the value of the deal and did not disclose the number of anti-battery radar systems involved. The price of such acquisitions is usually made public, but in this case it was deemed to be critical information about the Army’s performance capabilities and therefore too sensitive to reveal.

The Israeli contractor ELTA Systems emerged winner of an international bidding round to supply the materiel. The first units are expected to be delivered in 2021. The deal also includes an option to later order new radar units on terms to be separately agreed.

Defense Minister Jussi Niinistö said Finland needs the new radar units, which have been highlighted in conflicts in Ukraine and Syria. The systems can also be used for fire management and air traffic control.

“Artillery needs to be mobile and if its anti-battery radar doesn’t conform to modern warfare [standards], then it is no use,” the minister noted.