Israel sold Finland a multi-level missile defense system "David's Sling" for €317 million
The Israeli Defense Ministry has concluded a "historic" agreement on the first-ever sale abroad of the David's Sling missile defense system. The value of the transaction with Finland is estimated at €317 million. The Finnish authorities announced their desire to purchase the system on April 5 - a day after the country's accession to NATO. Why Helsinki "David's Sling" - in the material of "Gazeta.Ru».
The first sale of the air defense system abroad
The Israeli Defense Ministry has concluded an agreement on the sale of the David's Sling missile defense system to Finland, The Times of Israel newspaper wrote .
This is the first sale of an Israeli air defense system abroad. The "historic agreement" was signed at the headquarters of the Israeli Defense Ministry. It is estimated at €317 million.
- said Major General Yoav Har Even, CEO of Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, the developer of David's Sling.
Finland's decision to purchase the "David's Sling" became known on April 5 - a day after the country's accession to NATO.
Bloomberg clarified that David's Sling will replace the Russian Buk-M1 anti-aircraft missile systems received from the Russian Federation as part of debt repayment, as well as complement the capabilities of the Norwegian NASAMS 2 system and Hornet F/A-18 fighters capable of hitting targets at lower altitudes.
Close the gap in the Finnish sky
The David's Sling surface-to-air missile defense system can hit targets at a range of 40-300 kilometers and an altitude of at least 15 kilometers. It is capable of eliminating large-caliber unguided missiles and subsonic cruise missiles.
"David's Sling" was adopted by the Israel Defense Forces in April 2017, first used in May 2023. This system was developed by the Israeli company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems together with the American Raytheon.
Due to the fact that the system was developed jointly with the US company, the export of the system from Israel was impossible without the approval of the American side. In August, Washington approved the transaction.
"The Finnish Defense Forces currently do not have a high-altitude anti-aircraft missile, and the goal of David's Sling is to fill this gap. This acquisition is considered one of the most important purchases of weapons by Finland this year," the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat noted.
Finland increases arms purchases
The conclusion of the contract was not affected by another escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
"So far there are no signs that it (the conflict between Israel and Hamas. - "Newspaper.Ru") influenced the transaction. Deliveries will take place at the end of the 2020s, so by that time the situation will surely change," Frans Peltonen, an expert at the Finnish Ministry of Defense, said in mid-October.
Bloomberg reported that Finland has stepped up arms purchases against the background of the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Helsinki signed an agreement worth 10 billion euros for the purchase of F-35A fighter jets from Lockheed Martin Corp. Finland is also building new vessels for the Navy, suitable for patrolling off its shores.
"The Kremlin believes that this is another aggravation of the situation, that the expansion of NATO is an encroachment on our security, the interests of the Russian Federation. That's how we perceive it. We will take countermeasures to ensure our own security tactically and strategically," Russian Presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said shortly after Finland joined NATO.
Alexey Permyakov
