Finland is looking to purchase air defense systems from Israel, the Nordic nation's defense minister Antti Kaikkonen said on Finnish television show Ykkösaamu on Saturday, according to YLE News.

Finland previously sent an invitation for bids to five companies, including Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems.

Now, Finland has narrowed it down to the two Israeli candidates, Kaikkonen revealed. "It's a substantial investment...a big one right after fighter jets," he said.

Under the anti-aircraft project, Finland plans to purchase equipment such as transporter erector launchers, radar systems, missiles and related integration equipment, the defense ministry said, adding the goal is to make a final purchase decision in early 2023.

The decision to increase its air defense capabilities reportedly comes as a direct response to Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

Last week, Russia threatened Finland of "serious military and political" repercussions after prime minister Sanna Marin said Finland is considering applying for a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) membership.

Finland, which has historically been against joining NATO, has seen more and more Finnish voices calling to join the defense alliance.

A poll commissioned by YLE found that a majority (53%) of Finns now believe it is in Finland's best interest to join NATO. In contrast, only two years ago just one out of five Finns were in favor of joining NATO.

Despite that, president Sauli Niinisto ruled out the possibility of Finland reacting to the invasion by immediately applying for NATO membership.

In Finland, "we are now seeing quick comments for applying today and joining tomorrow," he said. "These sensitive reactions are understandable but cannot really work in the real world."

https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/all-news/article-700414

Putin is after something and about to create a useless record he knows he won't last anymore so he wants to do much harm to the world..

Hope they get enough quantities though.

Defend yourself at all time because no one knows how far this will go.

Abeg make Russia just send small army go shake Finland small make I know if Simon Epka go fight for Finland or him go dey find free Nigerian flight.

Na now this Russia don enter one chance

Everyone is now scared

DaddyFabooluz:
Abeg make Russia just send small army go shake Finland small make I know if Simon Epka go fight for Finland or him go dey find free Nigerian flight.

Hin go japa based on the excuse that Biafra needs him urgently

ObamaMessi:
Na now this Russia don enter one chance

Shift make i sit down jor.
One chance my ass.
Russia has the best air defence in the world

When you live close to a bully

Look at the effect of Putin's senseless action, the world will now be armed like never before in this century, everyone will look for arms wherever they can find.

even at the height of ussr power they couldn't defeat Finland...

DaddyFabooluz:
Abeg make Russia just send small army go shake Finland small make I know if Simon Epka go fight for Finland or him go dey find free Nigerian flight.

Israel failed Ukraine. Ukraine many months ago had begged the US to give them the Iron domes the US already paid for from Israel, in addition to US patriot missiles.

However, the Israelis for concern of bad blood that the sale could cause between Russia and Israel over particularly Israeli raids in Syria requested the US to decline giving the system to Ukraine.

Instead of the US to then supply the more expensive patriots system, it further threw Ukraine under the bus by not supplying any at all. If there were properly situated Iron domes in place in Ukraine most of Russia's missiles would have been countered because the Iron dome receives more saturation from Hamas and still holds steady.

I hope these Finnish guys would buy now before war breaks out. Israelis don't sell weapons during war.

Parachoko:
Hope they get enough quantities though.

I hope they do too because the rains will come hard on a small nation.

Question is : are the umbrellas enough!

Stone -throwing Palestinian youth defeated that Air defense.

panafrican:
Stone -throwing Palestinian youth defeated that Air defense.

Lalasticlala fp