ORAC
25th Jan 2008, 08:15
So, is this Finland looking at buying into ACCS, or Norway and the other northern region nations backing out of ACCS and deciding to go their own way?
DefenseNews: Finland Considers Joining NATO Surveillance System (http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3329297&C=europe)
Helsinki — Finland’s military needs to become more creative in how it spends money in the face of tougher budgets and possible funding reductions for land, air and naval procurement programs, Defense Chief Adm. Juhani Kaskeala warned.
One possible cost-saving innovation being examined involves Finland joining NATO’s Early Warning Air Surveillance System (EWASS), Kaskeala said.
Finland can best strengthen its deterrent capabilities by increasing its mobility and firepower, while more emphasis could be placed on exploring possible joint defense system purchases with neighbors Sweden and Norway.
“Finland has joined with Sweden and Norway to [look] at the formation of a joint air surveillance system. If these three nations decide to collaborate in this context, non-NATO member states Finland and Sweden would need to take part in the NATO Air Surveillance System, as Norway does not have a national system of its own,” Kaskeala said.
NATO is unlikely to block any common action by Nordic nations Finland, Sweden and Norway to develop a deeper pan-Nordic military platform.
“In Europe, non-NATO members Austria and Switzerland are included in the NATO air surveillance system,” Kaskeala said.
Responding to the FAC’s EWASS proposal, Defense Minister Jyri Häkämies said the government will examine the basis for a three-way cooperation with Sweden and Norway.
“We would also need to know the criteria under which Finland could join the NATO Air Surveillance System. The government will discuss the issue shortly, and a policy decision can be expected in the spring,” Häkämies said.
The FAC’s belt-tightening has resulted in large-scale reorganization of manpower, units and functions. The latest phase resulted in the mid-January opening of a new Land Forces Staff Headquarters in Mikkeli, in southeast Finland.
The economy drive also will hit the armed forces’ countrywide network of munitions depots. One-third of these depots are to be closed, with the prospect of new subterranean replacement storage depots dependent on future budgetary allocations.
DefenseNews: Finland Considers Joining NATO Surveillance System (http://www.defensenews.com/story.php?F=3329297&C=europe)
Helsinki — Finland’s military needs to become more creative in how it spends money in the face of tougher budgets and possible funding reductions for land, air and naval procurement programs, Defense Chief Adm. Juhani Kaskeala warned.
One possible cost-saving innovation being examined involves Finland joining NATO’s Early Warning Air Surveillance System (EWASS), Kaskeala said.
Finland can best strengthen its deterrent capabilities by increasing its mobility and firepower, while more emphasis could be placed on exploring possible joint defense system purchases with neighbors Sweden and Norway.
“Finland has joined with Sweden and Norway to [look] at the formation of a joint air surveillance system. If these three nations decide to collaborate in this context, non-NATO member states Finland and Sweden would need to take part in the NATO Air Surveillance System, as Norway does not have a national system of its own,” Kaskeala said.
NATO is unlikely to block any common action by Nordic nations Finland, Sweden and Norway to develop a deeper pan-Nordic military platform.
“In Europe, non-NATO members Austria and Switzerland are included in the NATO air surveillance system,” Kaskeala said.
Responding to the FAC’s EWASS proposal, Defense Minister Jyri Häkämies said the government will examine the basis for a three-way cooperation with Sweden and Norway.
“We would also need to know the criteria under which Finland could join the NATO Air Surveillance System. The government will discuss the issue shortly, and a policy decision can be expected in the spring,” Häkämies said.
The FAC’s belt-tightening has resulted in large-scale reorganization of manpower, units and functions. The latest phase resulted in the mid-January opening of a new Land Forces Staff Headquarters in Mikkeli, in southeast Finland.
The economy drive also will hit the armed forces’ countrywide network of munitions depots. One-third of these depots are to be closed, with the prospect of new subterranean replacement storage depots dependent on future budgetary allocations.