Media: Estonia and Finland to purchase heavy artillery from South Korea
The Armed Forces of Finland allocated EUR 100 million for the purchase of heavy artillery, which will replace old post-Soviet weapons. According to the newspaper Rzeczpospolita, at the end of 2016, the Finnish army tested South Korean K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers. Those are equipped with a 155 mm gun, and their range of fire is 40 km. The Howitzer's maximum speed is about 70 km per hour.
Moreover, the newspaper noted that Helsinki plans on purchasing used howitzers. The Finnish Defense Minister, Jussi Niinistö, asked Estonia to also participate in the contract. The Minister of Defense of Estonia, Margus Tsahkna, confirmed that Estonia accepted the Finnish proposal.
According to him, new weapons will significantly enhance the firepower of the Estonian army, as well as the mobility of the country’s Armed Forces. Overall, Tallinn plans to buy 12 howitzers and the countries will receive the new weapons in 2021.
Meanwhile, heavy military equipment for the U.S. Army was brought to Estonia.