Finland Selects David’s Sling For Long Range Air Defense
Finland’s defense ministry announced Wednesday that it had cleared the Finnish Defence Forces to purchase Rafael Advanced Defense Systems’ David’s Sling long-range air defense system.
The Finnish requirements for a long range air defense system specified a minimum altitude of 15 kilometers for interceptions. Colonel Mikko Mäntynen, Inspector of Ground Based Air Defence at Army Command, said in a press release that David’s Sling meets the Finnish Defence Force’s strict requirements, and will also be fully NATO compatible. Defense minister Antti Kaikkonen added that the procurement of David’s Sling was part of the “ambitious and long-term development of Finland’s defence capability in a new security environment”.
David’s Sling in Finnish service is expected to be fielded in the late 2020s, and is intended to provide coverage for all of Finland. According to the chief of the Finnish Air Force, Major General Juha-Pekka Keränen, the combination of David’s Sling, Finnish F-35As and existing air defense systems will result in a “very substantial” air defense capability for Finland.
The defense ministry estimates the current value of the procurement at approximately 316 million euros before value added tax, with a main contract worth approximately 213 million euros without VAT, and the immediate exercise of options worth 103 million euros. The estimate covers the cost of the system’s sensors, launchers and datalinks, as well as its Stunner hit-to-kill interceptors. The contract has further options worth up to 215 million euros before VAT, but exercising these options will require a separate decision.
A separate part of the procurement contract will be negotiated between Finland’s defense ministry and its Israeli counterpart to ensure the system’s security of supply, guaranteeing the availability of critical system components “in all security situations”.
As David’s Sling is jointly developed by Rafael and Raytheon, the system will require United States approval for export. Finnish industry will participate in the integration of the system alongside Rafael and Raytheon, as well as in the planning and equipping of command and control elements for the system. The news comes as Finland’s membership of NATO was ratified on Wednesday.