Arab Press

بالشعب و للشعب
Saturday, May 31, 2025

NATO's newest member is now becoming the first country to buy an advanced Israeli air-defense system

NATO's newest member is now becoming the first country to buy an advanced Israeli air-defense system

A day after Finland joined NATO, the country announced that it plans to buy the David's Sling system from Israel.

Finland, NATO's newest member, now plans to be the first military to obtain an advanced Israeli air-defense system.

The Finnish Defense Ministry said it approved the purchase of the David's Sling system in a statement on Wednesday. The ministry said it had sought a system that could reach a minimum altitude of 9 miles. David's Sling is designed to intercept missiles at ranges between 25 miles and 185 miles.

The system will "significantly" extend the range of Finland's ground-based air defenses, the statement said.

Israeli defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems will deliver the system, which was procured in a deal valued at nearly $345 million, according to the statement. The US will need to approve the sale, though it was not immediately clear when it will do so.

"This acquisition will create a new capability for the Finnish Defence Forces to intercept targets at high altitude. At the same time we are continuing the ambitious and long-term development of Finland's defence capability in a new security environment," Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen said in the statement.

Israeli air-defense systems at the Hatzor Air Base in Israel in April 2017.


Israel's Defense Ministry confirmed Finland's purchase on Thursday. "The system is designed to intercept advanced aerial threats: ballistic missiles, aircrafts, UAVs & cruise missiles," the ministry said in a statement on Telegram.

It will be the first export of the David's Sling system, according to a translation of the ministry's statement.

David's Sling is an advanced air-defense system built by Rafael and the US firm Raytheon and has been operational since 2017. Also known as the Magic Wand, it can intercept medium- to long-range rockets and missiles. It fires an interceptor called the Stunner, which doesn't have a warhead and defeats targets by striking them.

David's Sling is one layer of Israel's complex air-defense network and works alongside the Iron Dome, which can intercept short-range artillery and rockets, and the Arrow system, which protects against ballistic missiles.


 Finland's announcement came one day after it officially became NATO's 31st member, capping off an application process that began in May and was sparked by Russia's attack on Ukraine in February last year.

The Nordic country, which has historically been militarily non-aligned, brings a significant firepower boost to the military alliance — adding mountains of tanks, jets, and other lethal hardware.

"Each country maximizes its own security. So does Finland," Finnish President Sauli Niinistö said in a statement on Tuesday after the country officially joined the trans-Atlantic alliance. "At the same time, NATO membership strengthens our international position and room for manoeuvre."

"As a partner, we have long actively participated in NATO activities. In the future, Finland will make a contribution to NATO's collective deterrence and defence," Niinistö added.

Comments

Oh ya 2 year ago
Well when Iran gets nukes we can see how well that system works in Israel. My guess Isreal will be turned into glass.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Arab Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
Head of Gaza Aid Group Resigns Amid Humanitarian Concerns
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Calls Grow to Resume Syrian Asylum Claims in UK
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Denmark Increases Retirement Age to 70, Setting a European Precedent
Iranian Director Jafar Panahi Wins Palme d'Or at Cannes
Israeli Airstrike Kills Nine Children of Gaza Doctor
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Erupts Again, Spewing Ash Cloud over Flores Island
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
Michael Jordan to Serve as Analyst for NBA Games
Senate Democrats Move to Censure Trump Over Qatar Jet Gift
Hamas Releases Last Living US Hostage from Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict
×