Estonia not in hurry to accept advantageous howitzers - newspaper
19.02.2008
TALLINN, Feb 19, BNS - The Estonian Defense Ministry has an opportunity to buy 36 howitzers for a song but is not in a rush to accept the advantageous Finnish offer, the daily Eesti Paevaleht says.
"The artillery group is at present fully equipped and since the operative structure does not provide for a second artillery group at present there is no direct need for those weapons," a spokesman for the ministry explained. Nevertheless, the ministry has not yet made any decision on the matter.
Estonia could get the howitzers at advantageous terms as the Finnish defense forces are reducing arms and the said howitzers would be superfluous. Although the Defense Ministry is reluctant to reveal the amount of money Finland is asking for the weapons the sum is reportedly symbolic.
The howitzers would come from Finland complete with appertaining equipment and ammunition but without vehicles. "Additional howitzers and ammunition also need storage, various extra equipment and what's particularly important, trained personnel," the Defense Ministry spokesman said, adding that the ministry is going to analyze the question of including new howitzers in armaments when drawing up the new 10-year development plan.
"The decision will be made by the fall. Because of that, the Defense Ministry has as yet neither rejected nor approved the opportunity to procure howitzers from Finland."
A spokesman for the General Staff at the same time confirmed that the purchase of Finnish howitzers has already been endorsed. "The procurement of 122-mm howitzers is laid down in the four-year development plan of the defense forces signed by the defense minister," he said. "The funds for buying howitzers are planned already into this year's budget."
The howitzers offered by Finland were manufactured in the 1960s and 1970s. The Finns bought them from Germany. They were earlier used by the national armed forces of East Germany, the Defense Ministry spokesman said. Compared with the German 155-mm FH-70 howitzers used by the artillery group at present, the Soviet-made 122H63 howitzers are lighter and have a smaller range. Their maintenance would also be easier.
Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8815, sise@bns.ee
 
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