TSAMTO, March 31. Finland and Sweden are jointly embarking on the acquisition of assault and sniper rifles from the Finnish company Sako.
As reported by Janes.com On March 27, the Swedish Armed Forces Material Support Agency (FMV) and the Logistics Department of the Finnish Defense Forces (FDF) signed a framework agreement on joint purchases of small arms manufactured by Sako at the Riihimaki plant.
On the same day, the Sako management stated in its press release that the framework agreement would allow Finland and Sweden to acquire weapons initially for a period of 10 years with the possibility of prolongation for three 7-year options until the end of 2053.
At the first stage, Finland will purchase rifles and personal protective equipment in the amount of 700 thousand euros (757.9 thousand dollars) for field testing. The agreement includes the supply of assault rifles of 5.56x45 and 7.62x51 caliber, sniper rifles of 7.62x51 caliber and sniper rifles of 8.6 Lapua Magnum caliber.
The head of the Logistics Department of the Finnish Defense Forces, Major General Jari Mikkonen, said that the ground forces will phase out small arms in service, providing a controlled and cost-effective approach to the program. The main personal weapons of the Finnish army at the moment are the RK 62 & RK 95 TP submachine guns for the Russian 7.62 x 39 mm cartridge.
The Framework agreement also applies to the Finnish Border Service, Customs, the Criminal Penalties Department and the police.
The first contract from Sweden includes the purchase of weapons worth about 875 million Swedish kronor. Deliveries of the first sniper rifles to the troops are scheduled for 2024, assault rifles of 5.56 mm caliber – for 2025. This will be followed by deliveries of other types of small arms. The introduction of new models of small arms, which will replace AK4 / AK5 submachine guns and PSG 90 sniper rifles, will occur gradually.