Army to upgrade MLRS fleet to ensure long-range fires

The Army multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) fleet will be upgraded to a new version with the view to ensure long-range MLRS fires capacity also in the future, said Finnish Defence Forces in a press release on Friday.

The total of the Army MLRS fleet (41 pieces) will be upgraded to the new version of M270A2.

The upgrade will be implemented by the U.S Lockheed Martin. The total value of the MLRS fleet upgrade, without value added tax, will be EUR 450 million.

The upgrade will improve the MLRS frame, gun mounts and fire control and battle management system. The upgrade will include modifications that modernise the MLRS fleet.

Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has approved the procurement of the life-cycle upgrade for the MLRS fleet operational in the Finnish Defence Forces.

The initial MLRS procurements were made for the Finnish Defence Forces from the Netherlands, the U.S.A. and Denmark in 2006-2013.

“The MLRS fleet is part of the Finnish Defence Forces’ entity for long-range joint effects. The life-cycle upgrade ensures the usability and capability of the MLRS fleet well into the 2050s. This upgrade also enables using next-generation munitions and allows payload interoperability, Inspector of Artillery,” said Colonel Mika Holma of the Army Command.

In August 2023, the U.S. Congress granted the authorisation for the sales to Finland.