Finland modernizes M270 launchers to increase army’s long-range fire capacity

The total of the Finnish Army MLRS fleet (41 launchers) will be upgraded to the new version of M270A2. The upgrade will improve the MLRS frame, gun mounts and fire control and battle management system.The upgrade will include modifications that modernise the MLRS fleet.

Finnish Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has approved the procurement of the life-cycle upgrade for the MLRS fleet operational in the Finnish Defence Forces. The initial MLRS procurements were made for the Finnish Defence Forces from the Netherlands, the U.S.A. and Denmark in 2006-2013.

“The MLRS fleet is part of the Finnish Defence Forces’ entity for long-range joint effects. The life-cycle upgrade ensures the usability and capability of the MLRS fleet well into the 2050s. This upgrade also enables using next-generation munitions and allows payload interoperability,” Inspector of Artillery, Colonel Mika Holma from the Army Command says.

In August 2023, the U.S. Congress granted the authorisation for the sales to Finland.

The upgrade will be implemented by the Lockheed Martin. The total value of the MLRS fleet upgrade, without value added tax, will be EUR 450 million, Finnish Ministry of Defence said in statement.