Swedish Brig Gen Mikael Frisell and Finnish Maj Gen Kari Renko on 3 September signed a Technical Arrangement for joint small arms procurement. (Photo: Finnish MoD)
Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command and Swedish defence materiel agency FMV signed an agreement on 3 September for potential joint procurement of infantry weapons ‘and associated technologies’.
Col Rainer Peltoniemi, Inspector of Infantry in the Finnish Defence Forces, explained: ‘The aim is to improve interoperability between Finland and Sweden including the compatibility of materiel and security of supply of both countries.’
This announcement coincides with strong indications that Sweden will join the Finnish/Latvian Common Armoured Vehicle System.
Finland and Sweden signed an information exchange agreement in April for small arms and related technologies.
In the latest Technical Arrangement phase, Finland and Sweden pledged to ‘create conditions for carrying out procurements involving a family of small arms and associated accessories to be used by both countries as joint procurements’.
Finnish signatory Maj Gen Kari Renko mentioned that optronic systems would be included in the agreement as well as weapons and ammunition.
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The company’s proposal was recently selected by the US Army to progress Indirect Fires Protection Capability Increment 2 Second Interceptor competition.
The two contracts are for Amphibious Combat Vehicles (ACVs) and Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles (AMPVs) as part of previously awarded contract agreements worth billions of dollars.
Ukraine has highlighted the need for howitzers and radars as well as artillery and this commitment from Sweden will help to fill that gap and provide medium-distance fire in a defensive role post-war.
The armoured vehicles are fitted with 12.7mm heavy machine guns and came off the production line with specific Estonian requirements. Only the communications subsystems and some other minor equipment were added to vehicles in Estonia.
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