• Monday, 23 December 2024

New NATO member Finland purchases air defence system from Israel

New NATO member Finland purchases air defence system from Israel

Tel Aviv, 12 November 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Israel will sell its David's Sling air defence system to new NATO member Finland, the Israeli Defence Ministry said.

 

The "historic agreement" was signed on Sunday at the headquarters of the Israeli Defence Ministry in Tel Aviv, a ministry spokeswoman said.

 

The agreement was valued at €317 million ($340 million).

 

David's Sling is an air defence system developed jointly by Israel and the United States. It can intercept ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, aircraft and drones.

 

Finland boosted its defence budget after being admitted to NATO on April 4 this year as the alliance's 31st member. It applied to join after a long period of military non-alignment, in response to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

 

Photo: archive