Finland and Sweden jointly procure rifles from Sako

Sako rifles for Finnish and Swedish armed forces. (Sako)

Finland and Sweden are jointly procuring assault and sniper rifles from Finnish company Sako. The Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) and the logistics department of the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) signed a framework agreement on the joint procurement with Sako at its factory in Riihimäki on 27 March.

Sako said in a press release the same day that the framework agreement would enable Finland and Sweden to procure the weapons, initially covering a period of 10 years, with an option of three seven-year periods lasting until the end of 2053.

Finland will procure rifles and personal defence weapons worth EUR700,000 (USD757,911) for field testing. Major General Jari Mikkonen, director of the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) Logistics Command, said the FDF was “preparing to phase out the current weapon systems in stages, which will ensure a controlled and cost-effective phase out of the current system”. The Finnish Army's main personal weapons are the RK 62 and RK 95 TP assault rifles chambered in the Russian 7.62×39 mm cartridge.

The framework agreement also covers the Finnish Border Guard, customs, office of criminal sanctions, and police.

Sweden is procuring rifles and personal defence weapons worth SEK857 million (USD82.74 million). The number of weapons Sweden is procuring was not disclosed, but Sako said it was “considerable”.