Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!att!cbnews!military From: pjt@niksula.hut.fi (Pekka J Taipale) Newsgroups: sci.military Subject: Re: Finnish arms Message-ID: <15411@cbnews.ATT.COM> Date: 10 Apr 90 16:44:51 GMT References: <15266@cbnews.ATT.COM> Sender: military@cbnews.ATT.COM Organization: Helsinki University of Technology, Finland Lines: 55 Approved: military@att.att.com From: pjt@niksula.hut.fi (Pekka J Taipale) In article <15266@cbnews.ATT.COM> henry@zoo.toronto.edu (Henry Spencer) writes: >>I just read in AvLeak that Finland is negotiating to buy SU-27's or >>Mig-29's to replace the Mig-21's that they currently own. The also >>have sent out an RFP for the F-16, Mirage 2000, and Gripen JAS-39... >>Rather interesting inventory mix they have. >As neutrals, they've always preferred not to become dependent on either >side for weaponry. (This might even be required by treaty, I'm not sure.) It is not actually required by treaty, but has become a tradition in the Finnish Defence Forces. The Paris Peace Treaty of 1947 between Finland and the Allied (== USSR) says that Finland may not have any attack aircraft (bombers) or missiles (Finland has anti-aircraft and anti-tank missiles, though), and no more than 60 'modern' fighter planes. Finland has had Mig-15's, DeHavilland Vampires, Folland Gnats (museum stuff) and has now one squadron (20) of Mib-21bis planes and two squadrons (40) of SAAB Drakens (which might also belong to museum, but are in active use, however). For pilot training, we have Finnish-made Vinka training planes and British-designed Hawks (jet planes), most of which have been manufactured under licence in Finland. Now the Air Force wants to buy a squadron of Mig-29's (this seems quite certain now) and two squadrons of Western planes. The JAS-39 has had so much difficulties that I think it's a sure looser. The Air Force people seem to want F-16's, the politicians seem to like Mirages. The tradition of buying arms both from East and West is also applied in other kinds of weapons, although we are more on our own with many weapon kinds. Infantry weapons like assault rifles are manufactured in Finland by Valmet - the model is Kalashnikov-compatible (this way we can use captured ammunition material - this principle was proved to be very effective 50 years ago). Tampella Oy makes field cannons. We have Apilas anti-tank rockets from France, and also the well-known Russian anti-tank rocket launcher (which is not 'use-and-throw-away', I think the 'international' name for it is something like SG-7). We have SAM-7 AA missiles and TOW anti-tank missiles. Quite a mix, isn't it? Disclaimer: I am not an expert in weapon systems, nor do I work for the Finnish Army or government. I've just done the mandatory 11 months in army (not air force) and some 're-training' (BTW, what should this really be called?) afterwards. -- Pekka Taipale -- pjt@niksula.hut.fi