Defence Forces buy €92.6m life-cycle support services

The Defence Forces are going to procure life-cycle support services for military aviation, naval defence, and intelligence, surveillance, and command and control systems from three companies.

Defence Minister Antti Kaikkonen has authorised the Defence Forces to buy the services from Combitech, Patria Aviation Oy, and Insta Group Oy, said the defence ministry in a press release on Wednesday.

The support and maintenance contract between Combitech and the Defence Forces covers life-cycle support services for military aircraft and systems, naval defence systems, intelligence, surveillance and C2 systems, as well as training and information security systems.

The main part of deliveries from Combitech will take place in 2021, and the procurement is valued at about EUR 7.9 million (VAT 0%). The domestic employment effect will be about 40 person-years.

Procurements from Patria Aviation Oy are in line with the strategic partnership agreement made between Patria Aviation Oy and the Defence Forces. For their part, the procurements will enable the Defence Forces to achieve performance targets related to the systems maintenance covered by the partnership agreements. High operational reliability and sufficient industrial capacity in normal conditions will ensure reliable system operability in all readiness conditions. The services will be procured over the years from 2021 to 2025. The total price of the services is about EUR 59.4 million (VAT 0%). The domestic employment effect will be about 500 person-years.

The strategic partnership agreement with Insta Group Oy covers life-cycle support services for aircraft and systems in military aviation, naval defence systems, intelligence, surveillance, and C2, as well as target acquisition and training and information security systems. The procurement cost is about EUR 25.3 million (VAT 0%), and the estimated domestic employment effect is about 50 person-years.