ITO20 missile system for Pohjanmaa-class corvettes

The Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command has received authorisation from the Finnish Ministry of Defence (MoD) to purchase a surface-to-air missile system (ITO20) for the four Pohjanmaa-class corvettes of the Squadron 2020 project, the MoD announced on 21 February.

The complete system, worth €83 million, will be procured from the US defence administration through a government-to-government agreement.

The ITO20 system will consist of Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles, launcher units, spare parts, required supplementary parts and the related software package.

Surface-to-air missiles will protect the vessels' own operations and make it possible to protect other sites or operation of troops. A Gabriel surface-to-surface missile system and a torpedo weapon system have already been procured for the corvettes.  

The Finnish Navy’s Squadron 2020 project aims to replace the seven existing surface combatants with four Pohjanmaa-class corvettes.

The weapons and sensors will be procured from overseas through a separate tendering process.