UK agrees mutual security deals with Finland and Sweden

[Sardaukar]

On 3/5/2023 at 11:17 AM, bd1 said:

btw, i kind of think that Niinistö seems to be one of the last old type of politicians left in Europe, non-populist and sorta statesman-ish who has a lot of popular support

One funny comment about Niinistö was that he is like Kim Jong-un with 99% popularity.

[Sardaukar]

https://www.defmin.fi/en/topical/press_releases_and_news/minister_of_defence_made_decision_on_participation_in_joint_procurement_project_for_munitions.13471.news#f6a582c0

 

Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen signed the European Defence Agency's (EDA) document on joint procurement project for munitions on 20 March 2023.

This document is an agreement on joint procurement cooperation between the European defence administrations participating in the project and the EDA.

The objective of the joint procurement project is to support the munitions procurement of participating countries to improve the readiness and capability of their armed forces to carry out their tasks. Joint procurements are believed to lead to lower prices and improve the safety of supply chains, delivery times and storage management.

[Sardaukar]

This might also be of an interest:

https://theaviationist.com/2023/03/23/u-s-rc-135-intelligence-gathering-jet-flying-unprecedented-mission-inside-finlands-airspace/

Operating from the Finnish airspace, the U.S. ISR (Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance) aircraft can spy on the Russian forces near the border with Finland.

Finnish Air Force said that it'll be continuous co-operattion and will in future include also UAVs. 

Edited March 23, 2023 by Sardaukar

[Josh]

I was actually watching those two aircraft this morning (maybe 4-5 hours ago) wondering about that flight path and the fact that there were both RAF and USAF planes operating along the same frontier, which isn't usually the case.

[Sardaukar]

On 3/23/2023 at 8:22 PM, Josh said:

I was actually watching those two aircraft this morning (maybe 4-5 hours ago) wondering about that flight path and the fact that there were both RAF and USAF planes operating along the same frontier, which isn't usually the case.

NATO AFs and Swedish AF regularly train in Finnish airspace with Finnish AF.

[Sardaukar]

More 155mm rounds ordered.

https://www.defmin.fi/en/topical/press_releases_and_news/defence_forces_to_procure_additional_155_mm_artillery_round_parts.13484.news#f6a582c0

The Ministry of Defence has authorised the Defence Forces to procure 155 mm artillery round parts from Nammo Lapua Oy. The overall value of the procurement without value added tax is approximately 103 million euros. 

- The procurement will be used to expand the existing 155 mm artillery round stockpiles of the Finnish Defence Forces and to improve security of supply, says Minister of Defence Antti Kaikkonen.

[Sardaukar]

And now something even more interesting:

https://www.janes.com/amp/nordic-countries-combine-combat-air-power/ZnlJK3dHVU9mZ28xajRJVkc5dVI5VFp1cVMwPQ2

The Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden have agreed on “seamless co-operation” between their respective air forces, with a letter of intent (LOI)

....

As per the announcement, the four air forces will now jointly draw up a Nordic air operations concept as a basis for operations. On this basis, operations will be developed through four lines of action that comprise integrated air operations management, planning, and implementation; a flexible and sustainable support system; joint airspace awareness; and joint air force training and exercise activities.

“The countries will make use of the exercise activities in the Nordic region to develop co-operation,” the announcement said.

Also here: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/03/24/nordic-countries-move-toward-linking-their-air-forces-250-planes/

Edited March 26, 2023 by Sardaukar

[BansheeOne]

They could call it ... NORAD.

[Josh]

1 hour ago, BansheeOne said:

They could call it ... NORAD.

😂

[Sardaukar]

Finland and Sweden to acquire common rifle systems:

https://news.cision.com/sako-oy/r/finnish-and-swedish-defence-forces-to-acquire-a-joint-range-of-firearms-from-sako-ltd,c3741387

"The framework agreement between the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command, the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration and Sako Ltd for the procurement of firearms is a continuation of decades of cooperation between the Defence Forces and Sako Ltd. The future range of firearms is being prepared to gradually replace the Defence Forces' current assault rifles, self-loading sniper rifles and heavy sniper rifles."

Edited March 27, 2023 by Sardaukar

[Yama]

AIUI, Finland only buys a small test batch, Swedes do a larger acquisition.

[Sardaukar]

6 minutes ago, Yama said:

AIUI, Finland only buys a small test batch, Swedes do a larger acquisition.

Like that article said:

"The future range of firearms is being prepared to gradually replace the Defence Forces' current assault rifles, self-loading sniper rifles and heavy sniper rifles."   -Major General Jari Mikkonen, Director of the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command."  

Meaning FDF will also do the replacement gradually. 

 

Edited March 27, 2023 by Sardaukar

[bojan]

Out of all things any military can do at this moment, acquiring new "assault" rifles while existing ones, well, exist is fucking retarded. If anything could be learned from Ukraine is that difference between rifles do not fucking matter even at Plt level firefights.

[Sardaukar]

9 minutes ago, bojan said:

Out of all things any military can do at this moment, acquiring new "assault" rifles while existing ones, well, exist is fucking retarded. If anything could be learned from Ukraine is that difference between rifles do not fucking matter even at Plt level firefights.

Our assault rifles are getting old. Last RK 95 TP came out of factory 1997.

Thus, it is about time to start gradual replacement and of course in NATO calibers.

[Yama]

Large portion of Rk 62's were just modernized, so the need is not acute. Finnish rifle project is in long haul, as said the first acquisition is worth just $700k, a small field test batch.

[Sardaukar]

Yea, program is into 2053, so it's not like FDF is in hurry.

Sweden, OTOH, is starting replacements right now. 

[DB]

Saw an article claiming that NAMMO is having trouble expanding production of artillery ammunition because of limited power available from the electrical grid. The headline was that a the NAMMO management was complaining that itktok servers were using all the power.

You see, those crazy Chinese are trying to mess with everything.

Sauce: https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/mar/28/energy-hungry-tiktok-data-centre-ukraine-ammunition-production-nammo-norway

[DB]

And yes, I know it's "source", but spelling it that way is traditional for t'interweb silly stories.

[Sardaukar]

Those data centers are huge power hogs, we have Google one here in Finland. 

[Markus Becker]

22 hours ago, Sardaukar said:

Our assault rifles are getting old. Last RK 95 TP came out of factory 1997.

Thus, it is about time to start gradual replacement and of course in NATO calibers.

But in 7.62 Nato? That's so 50s. 

[Sardaukar]

Just now, Markus Becker said:

But in 7.62 Nato? That's so 50s. 

Apparently it can be converted to 6.8mm in future... IF that cartridge is gaining traction in future.  

[Markus Becker]

5 minutes ago, Sardaukar said:

Apparently it can be converted to 6.8mm in future... IF that cartridge is gaining traction in future.  

IF! Otoh the Swedish rifles are said to be very worn out and thus some form of replacement is necessary but the choice of caliber....

[Sardaukar]

3 minutes ago, Markus Becker said:

IF! Otoh the Swedish rifles are said to be very worn out and thus some form of replacement is necessary but the choice of caliber....

Well...basically everyone in NATO is stuck with 5.56 and 7.62 NATO still. I think 7.62s are going to be "designated marksman rifles".

[Markus Becker]

19 minutes ago, Sardaukar said:

Well...basically everyone in NATO is stuck with 5.56 and 7.62 NATO still. I think 7.62s are going to be "designated marksman rifles".

7.62 or 6.8 make sense for DMR. 

BTW, what is the difference in performance between 6.8 and 6.5 Creedmoore in a rifle with a DMR length barrel? 

Edited March 28, 2023 by Markus Becker

[Olof Larsson]

4 hours ago, Markus Becker said:

But in 7.62 Nato? That's so 50s. 

The 5,56x45 guns will be delivered first, so I can only hope that someone will get to their senses & ditch the utterly retarded idea about a 7,62x51 rifle for the infantry.