Finland receives new radar

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MASSY, France, Jan. 16 (UPI) -- The Air Force of Finland has received the first of 12 long-range air defense radars ordered from ThalesRaytheonSystems of France.

The delivery of the Ground Master 400 system to a base in Tikkkoski, Finland, took place in an official ceremony attended by company officials and Brig. Gen. Kari Salmi, the chief of staff of the service.

"Our operators are satisfied with the progression of this program which has reached this markable milestone, and we are looking forward to see all these modern system benefits in operation" he said.

The GM 400, which will give Finland extended air space surveillance, and be operated from six sites under a radome or rapidly deployed in the field. The radar delivered to Finland is in a tactical, truck-mounted configuration.

"The level of cooperation between the Finnish Ministry of Defense and ThalesRaytheonSystems teams in accomplishing the deployment of this GM 400 radar was excellent," said Philippe Duhamel, chief executive officer of ThalesRaytheonSystems. "We look forward to pursuing our collaboration with Finland on the next 11 GM 400s."