Potential for Israeli Companies in Finland?

Potential for Israeli Companies in Finland?

080915-N-1082Z-010 MEDITERANEAN SEA (Sept. 15, 2008) The MK-38 25mm gun system is fired during a live fire exercise aboard the guided-missile cruiser USS Vella Gulf (CG 72). Vella Gulf is deployed as part of the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) supporting maritime security operations in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jason R. Zalasky/Released)

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The Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command has sent out 12 tender requests to local and foreign companies for a battle system which is required for the Squadron 2020 vessels.

The battle system would include systems in the following fields – weapon, command and control and sensors.

Israeli companies manufacture a variety of systems for navy vessels: radar systems, communication systems, stabilized observation systems and remote controlled weapon stations. The Finnish tender requests may interest them.

According to defenseworld.com, the Finnish forces expect replies by February 13, 2017. After this date an invitation to negotiate and an invitation to tender will be sent to selected suppliers during spring, the ministry of defense announced recently.

The battle system will be competitively tendered, including the integration of systems into the vessels.

Among the strong contenders, the Defence Forces are evaluating the possibility to purchase Squadron 2020 vessels from the shipyard of Rauma Marine Constructions.

A statement of intent was agreed with the shipyard through which the company’s shipyard capacity, security of supply and other preconditions to build surface combatants can be assessed. In December 2015, the Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command sent a Request for Information (RfI) and in spring 2016 it received replies from around 80 domestic and foreign suppliers. The many research projects, simulations and model studies of the Navy and the Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command have created preconditions for technical specifications and domestic design to meet national special requirements. Preliminary design for the vessels has already been made.

On September 23, 2016, the Minister of Defence gave the Defence Forces a mandate to start the Squadron 2020 project. According to the decision, it’s critical that the services which are required by and crucial for the maintenance and repair of the Navy’s capabilities are available in Finland.

The vessels will be designed primarily for the needs of national defence. They will ensure or create a capability for creating a situation picture, mobile underwater surveillance, air and surface defence, underwater influence and sea mine warfare.

The exact configuration of the battle system will be decided in the course of design but at least sea mines and missiles are likely to be included in the main weapon systems. The plan is to construct four vessels which will be capable of navigating through ice-covered waters.

The life-cycle of four Rauma-class fast attack missile crafts and two Hämeenlinna-class minelayers is predicted to end by mid-2020s. Their life-cycle cannot be extended in a cost-efficient way.