On April 4, 2023, Finland became the 31st full member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). And on April 5, Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen approved the purchase for the Finnish armed forces of the Israeli David's Sling missile defense system ("Kela David" - "Shield of David") as a new high-altitude long-range anti-aircraft missile system. The purchase of the production complex by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems will be carried out within the framework of an intergovernmental agreement with the Ministry of Defense of Israel.
Launch of the Stunner missile from the launcher of the Israeli David's Sling missile defense system ("Kela David" - "Shield of David") (c) Rafael Advanced Defense SystemsThe purchase price without VAT is about 213 million euros in the main contract, and another 103 million euros in the "immediately executed" option - that is, a total of 316 million euros.
In addition, additional options are provided in the amount of another 216 million euros. It is stated that "the possibility of buying out options will be decided separately. In addition, the operation of the complex will require additional acquisitions of equipment for armament at a later stage."
Presumably, this refers to the acquisition by Finland of several batteries of the David's Sling complex. It is reported that at the final stage of the competition for the purchase of long-range air defense systems, the Ministry of Defense of Finland made a choice between two Israeli systems - David's Sling and Barak-MX.
Finland thus became the first foreign customer of the David's Sling complex ("Kela David"), jointly developed by the Israeli Ministry of Defense and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems with the participation of the American corporation Raytheon Technologies with American government funding - from 2006 to 2020, the United States allocated $ 1.99 billion for R&D and procurement under the program. Therefore, the purchase of the complex will require special permission from Finland from the United States. The complex has been in service with Israel since the beginning of 2017 as the "second echelon" system of the Israeli integrated integrated missile defense system (the "first echelon" system is the short-range tactical missile defense system Iron Dome - "Kipat Barzel").
The David's Sling complex ("Kela David") is designed to combat ballistic and aerodynamic targets and uses a highly maneuverable high-energy two-stage Stunner anti-missile (David Slingshot, SkyCeptor) developed by Raytheon with a combined multi-channel guidance system, including a combination of radio command, active radar and two-channel infrared guidance. The missile has a length of 4.6 m and is capable of reaching speeds up to M = 7.5, while it does not carry a warhead, hitting the target only kinetically. The complex has an effective range of up to 250 km and a height of at least 15 km (actually up to 30 km) and is capable of intercepting ballistic missiles with a firing range of up to 300 km. The complex (battery) includes a multifunctional radar IAI Elta EL/M-2084 MMR with AFAR, a command post and 12-container vertical launch launchers placed on semi-trailers (the launch can also be carried out obliquely).
It should be noted that, according to reports, the United States previously prevented the promotion of the David's Sling complex for export, including for fear of creating competition with its own Patriot family of air defense systems. In particular, it is believed that under pressure from the United States, the David's Sling complex did not participate in the Swiss tender for the SAM (where Patriot was eventually chosen).
