Finland to buy David's Sling Long-Range Air Defence System

Finnish Defence Forces will procure the David's Sling system as the next long-range air defence system of Finland.

The Ministry of Defence has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to buy the new system for building high-altitude capability for ground-based air defence from Rafael Advanced Defense Systems in Israel at a cost of about 316 million euros, said the Ministry of Defence in a press release on Wednesday.

The minimum flight altitude requirement of the system was set at 15 000 meters in the request for quotation.

“This acquisition will create a new capability for the Finnish Defence Forces to intercept targets at high altitude. At the same time we are continuing the ambitious and long-term development of Finland's defence capability in a new security environment,” Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen said.

The procurement consists of a main contract worth approximately 213 million euros excluding value added tax and the immediate exercise of options linked to the main contract worth 103 million euros excluding value added tax.

The possible exercise of these options requires a separate decision.

The procurement contract will include a separate part between the Israel Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Defence of Finland to ensure the security of supply of the system. The arrangement will ensure the availability of critical system components in all security situations.

The David's Sling system is a long-range air defence system jointly developed by Israel and the United States.

The sale of the system to Finland will require a sales release by the United States Government.

Finnish industry, together with Rafael and Raytheon, will participate in the integration of the system and in the planning and equipping of the command and control elements.

The new surface-to-air missile system will enable interception at relevant altitudes. The subsystems to be procured will include the missile launchers, radars and missiles, as well as systems integration, said Finnish Defence Forces in a press release.

The procurement seeking to support high-altitude capability building has been prepared by the project on high-altitude capability for ground-based air defence since 2017. In the year 2020, the request for quotations was sent to altogether five defence companies, and, in 2022, Barak-MX and David’s Sling were chosen for the second round of negotiations.

Following the evaluation of the final quotations, the Finnish Defence Forces proposed that the procurement contract be awarded to deliver David´s Sling Weapon System.

“The system to be procured stands for a modern and highly capable missile system that meets our strict specifications requirements. Excellently suited for the needs of Finland’s air defence, the system will also be fully NATO-compatible,” Inspector of Ground-Based Air Defence, Colonel Mikko Mäntynen of the Army Command said.

“The system will significantly strengthen the capability of Finland’s air defence. Together with the commissioning of the F-35 and the already fielded ground-based air defence systems in service, the air defence of Finland will be very substantial on the European scale,” Commander of the Finnish Air Force, Major General Juha-Pekka Keränen said.