Finland reportedly plans to purchase new heavy self-propelled artillery

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Defence & Security News - Finland
 
Finland reportedly plans to purchase new heavy self-propelled artillery
The Finnish Defence Forces are planning to buy more effective field artillery and the cost of acquiring the new stock is estimated at up to €100 million, reported Finnish language daily Turun Sanomat. Under consideration is new heavy self-propelled artillery.
     
Finland reportedly plans to purchase new heavy self-propelled artillery36 Russian-made 122mm PsH 74 (2S1) self-propelled gun are in service in Finnish Army
     

The new weaponries are needed to replace the aging Army's artillery stock which will be largely obsolete by 2020s. The Army want to replace its old artillery weapons with one mobile weaponry system. Defence Minister Carl Haglund considers the purchase of new field artillery weapons necessary. There is also an option to buy used ones."It is a fact that we are very serious about this. It is quite clear that the artillery are aging, and highly used current systems have to be replaced," Haglund was quoted by Turun Sanomat.

In 2014, Finland had only 36 Russian-made 122mm PsH 74 (2S1) self-propelled gun. The rest of Helsinki artillery consist of towed artillery: 234 122mm H-63 (D-30), 35 130mm K-54 (M-46) and 54 local 155mm K-83/K-98. Helsinki also has bought 22 M-270 MLRS from the Netherlands in 2006.