Finland has transferred prototypes of some of its most advanced weapon systems to Ukraine to evaluate their effectiveness in combat.
Finnish Defense Forces arms chief Mikko Heiskanen said the weapons were part of classified projects, with many of them still under development.
Though he did not provide specific details, he revealed that soldier feedback on the platforms has so far been positive.
“The experience gained in Ukraine will be useful for the development of the latest Finnish equipment,” Heiskanen stressed. “There would be more demand for them.”
Finland has been one of the most important military backers of Ukraine, with more than 2.9 billion euros ($3.1 billion) of aid provided since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.
‘In Line With Own Interests’
Heiskanen clarified that providing Ukraine with weapons that have not been fully developed and produced is fully in line with Finland’s own interests.
He further stated that it is beneficial when these Finnish weapons help reduce Moscow’s military potential on the battlefield.
“We don’t need to do anything. Ukrainians will do it with their own blood,” he explained.
Previously, Helsinki announced that it would send Leopard 2 tanks and heavy artillery to the war-ravaged nation.
Testbed for Western Weapons?
Ukraine’s war with Russia has given NATO countries a chance to test their weaponry in actual battles.
Since 2022, Western nations have pledged over $380 billion in aid, with the weapons being shipped becoming more advanced as the war drags on.
Former Ukrainian Defense Mnister Oleksiy Reznikov told the Financial Times that because of the weapons shipments, allies can actually see how efficiently their weapons work or if they need to be upgraded to meet the demands of war.
“For the military industry of the world, you can’t invent a better testing ground,” he said.