The Finnish Navy has operationalized the Israeli-made Gabriel anti-surface missile seven years after its acquisition.
The Israel Aerospace Industries missile will replace the current 85M-järjestelmä (MTO 85M), the local designation for Saab’s RBS15 anti-ship missile.
The MTO 85M will reach the end of its service life by the end of the decade.
“The deployed surface-to-surface missile system is one of the Navy’s main weapon systems, with naval mines being the other,” Commander of the Finnish Navy Rear Admiral Tuomas Tiilikainen said.
“The highly advanced features and long range of the missile system help to ensure the implementation of maritime defence tasks nationally or as part of an alliance.
It also enables participation in the joint influence tasks of the Defence Forces, which I consider important.”
Gabriel Missile
Helsinki purchased the missile in 2018 for 162 million euros ($189 million), a package that included launchers, missiles, simulators, test equipment, spare parts, and training.
Deliveries were scheduled between 2019 and 2025, with the system expected to remain in service until the 2050s.
The missile was chosen over competing systems, including Kongsberg’s Naval Strike Missile, MBDA’s Exocet, Boeing’s Harpoon, and Saab’s RBS15.
Features
The Gabriel can engage both sea- and land-based targets at ranges exceeding 200 kilometers (124 miles), significantly farther than its predecessor.
It uses satellite and inertial navigation with a radar seeker for terminal guidance.
The sea-skimming missile has been deployed on Hamina-class missile boats and is expected to be integrated into the under-construction Pohjanmaa-class corvettes.
It can also be launched from land-based vehicle platforms.
“By installing the missile system on several different platforms, we will achieve combat durability and a wide-area strike capability on land and sea in the demanding conditions of the modern and future battlefield,” Tiilikainen added.
Decision on Israeli Weapons Purchase
The development comes after Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo stated in June that Finland would refrain from new arms purchases from Israel due to the Gaza war.
However, he emphasized that past acquisitions would not be affected by the decision.
“The Foreign Ministry makes its assessment of every arms deal. What we see happening in the Middle East now and how Israel is acting, of course, must have an impact,” Orpo was quoted as saying.
“I don’t see any justification for making new deals.”
