JERUSALEM: Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced a landmark agreement on Sunday, sealing a €317 million ($340 million) deal for the sale of its advanced David’s Sling air defense system to Finland, a new member of the NATO alliance. The David’s Sling system, jointly developed by Israeli and US companies, is designed to intercept a variety of threats, including ballistic and cruise missiles, aircraft, and drones.
The defense ministry termed the deal as a “historic agreement,” highlighting the significance of the sale. This announcement follows Israel’s September signing of a $3.5-billion deal, the largest-ever for the country’s defense industry, to export its Arrow 3 hypersonic missile system to Germany. The Arrow 3 system, developed in collaboration with the United States, required approval from Washington before finalization.
Israel’s Sale of Air Defense System to Finland
The sale of the David’s Sling air defense system to Finland comes at a time when NATO allies, particularly in Europe, are intensifying efforts to enhance their air defense capabilities in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year. Germany, a key player in bolstering NATO’s defenses, had initiated a push for allies to jointly acquire deterrence systems.
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As a new member of NATO, Finland swiftly expressed its intention to purchase an Israeli defense system against a spectrum of threats, including aircraft, rockets, and missiles. Analysts suggest that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine is likely to fuel greater demand for Israeli arms in Europe, given the need for advanced and versatile defense systems.
