The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified the US Congress of the upcoming deliveries of 70 M39 Block 1A (MGM-168) ATACMS tactical missiles to Finland. The deal to be realized by Lockheed Martin is $ 132 million.
Washington intends to satisfy Helsinki's request for the supply of missiles capable of delivering strategic strikes against St. Petersburg, Karelia, and the Leningrad and Murmansk regions.
The operational-tactical missile system "ATACMS" (Army Tactical Missile System) is designed to destroy point targets, such as command posts, missile launchers, air defense facilities, communication centers, fuel and lubricants depots located deep in the enemy's defense in all weather conditions, in any Times of Day. To launch the rocket, an upgraded M270 launcher of the MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) multiple launch rocket system is used.
The missiles will be deployed on 22 M270 launchers on tracked chassis, which are now used as US-made MLRS multiple launch rocket launchers. These machines were purchased from the Dutch army in 2006. Last year, Lockheed Martin under a $ 45.3 million contract upgraded them. Installations have become modular. From them, you can fire both ATACMS OTRK missiles (M39 Block 1A (MGM-168A)), and projectiles of a promising MLRS GMLRS with a cluster warhead and a firing range of up to 70 km.
The key element of the ATACMS complex is high-precision ballistic missiles with a firing range of up to 300 km.
The missiles have inertial guidance, integrated with the GPS satellite navigation system. The MGM-168A modification, which Finland intends to acquire, is equipped with a WDU-18 monoblock high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 227 kg.
Allowed to use ammunition WAM, SMArt155 and BLU-108, or LOCAAS submunitions.
Modifications and performance characteristics of the operational tactical missile MGM-140 ATACMS
The Block 1A missile has a unitary warhead and is the latest addition to the ATACMS family of ammunition.
This variant is designed to attack with high accuracy in all weather conditions. The missile has a unique "vertical strike" technology and is designed for deep penetration to underground and (or) protected targets (command post, missile launchers, air defense objects, communication centers, fuel and lubricants depots, and WMD depots) and to optimize the fragmentation of fragments, while reducing collateral damage (localization up to 100m in diameter).
Can this weapon be called defensive, so necessary for neutral Suomi to protect sovereignty and economic interests?
Most likely not, which in fact follows from the name of the complex:
The ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) operational-tactical missile system is designed to destroy point targets located deep in the enemy's defense in any weather conditions, at any time of the day.
Hypothetically, with whom can Finland fight (Neutral country, member of the EEC since 1996)?
With Estonia (where do the Finns regularly swim for alcoholic drinks and where there are even special taxis and prisons-hotels for Finns who have gone overboard)? With Sweden and Norway (with which there is even no border and control)?
Probably, the Finns decided to jam fish in the Gulfs of Bothnia and Finland.
But seriously, "large" and worthy targets are cities that can be easily guessed from these photographs, as well as the Headquarters of OSK Zapad, objects of the Leningrad Military District, the Baltic and Northern fleets.
Of course, Finland is not going to attack a big neighbor either today or even the day after tomorrow. This is nonsense - anyone will say - and it will be right. But partially. Let's remember the history. Winter War 1939-1940 Finland was defeated (which is to be expected).
Territorial changes
Karelian Isthmus and Western Karelia. As a result of the loss of the Karelian Isthmus, Finland lost its existing defense system and began at an accelerated pace to build fortifications along the new border (Salpa Line), thereby moving the border from Leningrad from 18 to 150 km.
Part of Lapland (Old Salla).
The Petsamo area (Pechenga), occupied by the Red Army during the war, was returned to Finland [90].
Islands in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland (Gogland Island).
Rent of the Hanko Peninsula (Gangut) for 30 years.
And who could have guessed that already in the summer of 1941 Finland (1, 5 years after the defeat) occupied the Karelian Isthmus and Soviet Karelia, thereby securing the blockade of Leningrad from the north!
It is not the very fact of the presence of such weapons that raises concerns, but the use of such weapons against Russia in a bloc with NATO or under duress, or from the territory of Finland."
And it is unlikely that 70 operational-tactical missiles can provide a full-fledged preemptive strike on the infrastructure of the above facilities for revenge after the Winter War. This is not the essence of this deal. In Helsinki, more and more people are talking about the need for the country's accession to NATO, public opinion polls are constantly being conducted, articles are being written, analysts are provided, etc. How much is needed to whip up militaristic sentiments in Suomi?
While many Western European states of the North Atlantic Alliance, which have long ceased to believe in the "Russian threat", are getting rid of the weapons that have become unnecessary, the Finnish army, aviation and navy are replenished with new armored vehicles, aircraft and ships.
Finland is slowly but surely building up the power of its defense forces, not even paying attention to the economic crisis in the European Union.
