Finland intends to procure RBS 70 NG MANPADS

RBS 70 NG live firing in September 2011 at the Saab Bofors Test Center in Karlskoga, Sweden. (Saab )

Finnish Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) to procure the RBS 70 NG (Next Generation) manportable air defence system (MANPADS) from Saab, his ministry announced in a press release on 3 July 2026. The Finnish Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the procurement would strengthen regional air defence coverage throughout Finland.

The ministry said the EUR108 million (over USD123 million) procurement would include launchers, training equipment, and a maintenance system, with a full operational capability planned for the end of the 2020s. Training, including of conscripts, will be conducted by the FDF's Karelia Brigade.

The Finnish MoD said the RBS 70 NG is a more advanced version of the ITO05M system already operated by the FDF, improving Finnish defence capabilities against unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and manned aircraft. According to Saab, the RBS 70 NG has an effective range greater than 9,000 m and altitude coverage of 0-5,000 m, with a deployment time of 45 seconds and reloading time less than five seconds for the MANPADS. The maximum velocity of the Bolide missile fired by the system is Mach 2.

A Saab spokesperson told Janes on 3 July that no contract has been signed yet between Finland and Saab.

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