State Department approves sale of anti-ship missiles, interceptors to Finland

The State Department has cleared Finland to buy Harpoon anti-ship missiles and defensive Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced today.

The Harpoon sale could be worth as much as $622 million and would include 100 Block II Plus Extended Range (ER) missiles, 12 Block II missiles, 12 Block II Plus ER upgrade kits and eight exercise weapons, according to DSCA. Finland plans to use the missiles on its Hamina-class ships, Multi-role Corvette ships and coastal batteries.

"The missiles will provide enhanced capabilities in effective defense of critical sea lanes," DSCA said. "The proposed sale of the missiles and support will increase the Finnish Navy's maritime partnership potential and increase regional security capability."

Boeing manufactures Harpoon missiles in St. Louis. The potential sale would be the first time Finland purchases the Block II Plus ER variant of the missile.

Boeing has developed the Block II Plus ER variant for use on U.S. Navy aircraft. The company was planning to offer the Navy a ship-launched version of the weapon for the over-the-horizon missile program, but the company dropped out of the competition after saying the service's requirements were too modest, Inside Defense reported in May.

The potential ESSM sale to Finland, meanwhile, would involve 68 missiles at a cost of $112.7 million, according to a separate DSCA announcement. Finland would use the ESSMs, which defend against anti-ship missiles, on its new Squadron 2020-class Corvettes, DSCA notes.

The potential sale would be Finland's first time purchasing ESSMs.

"The missiles will provide enhanced capabilities in effective defense of critical sea lanes and improve Finland's capability to meet current and future threats of enemy anti-ship weapons," DSCA said.

Raytheon manufactures Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles, while BAE Systems makes the missile canisters.