Finland – M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) Upgrade
WASHINGTON, August 1, 2023 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Finland of a M270A2 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) upgrade and related equipment for an estimated cost of $395 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
The Government of Finland has requested to buy the M270A2 upgrade for its M270A1 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS). The upgrade will include: intercom systems; radio communication mounts; machine gun mounts; battle management system vehicle integration kit; publications for MLRS; spares; services; support equipment; and other related elements of program and logistics support. The estimated total cost is $395 million.
Upgrade of the MLRS fleet to ensure long-range fires capacity
The total of the Army MLRS fleet (41 pieces) will be upgraded to the new version of M270A2. 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.
In August 2023, the U.S. Congress granted the authorisation for the sales to Finland.
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.
Patria has maintained its strong expertise in field gun manufacture
Patria has a solution to improve mobility
Patria has sought to hold on to the expertise it has gained over the decades. This has been supported by Patria’s long experience in designing and manufacturing mortars.
Patria’s current range includes the industry-leading Patria NEMO mortar system. The mortar is breech-loaded and shares structural elements with guns.
– Patria has the capability to restart gun production in a relatively short period of time, if this is desired, says Pekka Ruutu.
Patria has long experience in integrating a variety of weapon systems into different vehicle platforms, including field gun integration. Guns are installed on vehicles such as the Sisu 8×8 off-road truck used by the Finnish Defence Forces.
– A field gun integrated into the vehicle’s platform is a mobile and versatile unit. In addition to land forces, it can also be deployed to enhance coastal defence capabilities.
Ruutu emphasises that mobility is vital to artillery in modern warfare, as drones and other technological advances have made the battlefield more transparent.
– Instead of concealment, the key to safeguarding the survival of artillery in this challenging environment is to ensure speed in moving the gun to the firing position, firing and then leaving the position.
Patria is currently actively developing and testing a field gun integrated into a wheeled vehicle.
326204-2024 - Wettbewerb
Finnland – Artillerie – PARTICIPATION APPLICATION REQUEST, THE ARTILLERY SYSTEM FOR COASTAL DEFENCE
OJ S 106/2024 03/06/2024
Auftrags- oder Konzessionsbekanntmachung – Standardregelung
Lieferungen
Beschreibung:
The Defence Forces Logistics Command (later referred to as Contracting Entity) requests a participation application regarding The Artillery System in accordance with this participation application request and its appendices.
Self-propelled 155 mm artillery system with NATO Joint Ballistic Memorandum of Understand (JBMoU) compatibility ammunition and charge system. The acquired entity will contain 16 artillery systems +/- 4 systems, depending on the funding provided. In addition, options for years 2029-2031 will be requested for 6 systems depending on the quantity to be acquired.
The aim of the procurement is to create a mobile artillery capability for coastal defence forces in order to engage vessels in Finnish territorial waters at the littoral area including the archipelago and hostile forces on land. The system shall have a high degree of mobility enabling deployment in the operational environment. The primary operational environment for the system is the Finnish coastal area.
The Government of Finland has requested to buy five thousand five hundred (5,500) M1156A1 Precision Guidance Kit (PGK) multi-option fuzes that will be added to a previously-implemented case whose value was under the congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at $.97 million, included technical data/reports; U.S. Government technical assistance; incidental travel; transportation; PGK spare parts; equipment training; and related elements of logistics and program support. This notification includes the original aforementioned items and adds five thousand five hundred (5,500) M1156A1 PGK multi-option fuzes. The following non-MDE items will also be included: ancillary items; compatibility testing; firing tables; integration kits; antennas; key loaders; precision-guided munition simulator; technical assistance; technical data/reports; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total program cost is $70 million.
Finnish Defence Forces to develop mortar mobility by a new system
The Army has developed in co-operation with the Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command and Patria Land a new, heavy M3 mortar system (M3 denotes Modular Mobile Mortar), the pre-series of which will be procured by the FDF Logistics Command from Patria Land. The new mortars will be delivered to the Army during 2025. The total value of the procurement will be EUR 4,7 million excluding VAT.
Heavy mortars are used to provide support for forces in combat. In the future, the role of mortars will become more prominent as the forces’ organic heavy fire units of indirect fire.
The new weapon system will be fitted and mounted onto a vehicle top from which a request for fire will be executed directly, resulting in increased mortar mobility. The system will utilise the already existing barrel and battle management system that have been integrated to the module with magazine, recoil mechanism and inertial navigation system. The module allows fires from practically all standard container-lock-fitted vehicles. In case of vehicle malfunction, the module can be transfered to another vehicle to continue mission execution.
The mortar remains ready for fire direction without specific preparations in all types of soil, and its firing capacity equals at least that of a towed mortar. Finnish-made with security of supply for its components and sparts, the weapon system is easy to operate and cost-efficient.
– The new M3 system will improve our forces’ mobility, protection, and effectiveness. The development of the system sets an example of co-operation that has advanced quickly all the way from concept generation, to prototype test fires, to testing the system, to pre-series requirement specifications, to its operational concepts and tactics. The pre-series systems to be procured will be fielded for use case experiences, and the decisions concerning possible additional acquisitions will be made at a later point in time. The objective is to start conscript training using the new mortars during 2026, says Inspector of Infantry, Colonel Ari Lehmuslehti from the Army Command.
