Arms Industry | Israel bought a device to protect Prime Minister Netanyahu from Finland

In Vantaa the operating company Sensofusion has been delivered by the Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and for the protection of this office, an observation system to Israel to protect against drones and monitor the airspace.

According to official sources, the system protecting Netanyahu was ordered by the Israeli Ministry of Defense at the turn of the year. In the order, the final disposal location of the system was stated to be the office of the Prime Minister of Israel.

The prime minister’s office is located in Jerusalem.

Israel is currently fighting a war in Gaza, and Israel and the extremist organization Hezbollah are also fighting each other on the Lebanese border.

Sensofusion managing director Tuomas Rasila does not comment on the company’s customers in any way.

It is known that the company has previously said having delivered similar Airfence systems to the United States and Ukraine, which is fighting a defensive war.

On a general level, Rasila says that Sensofusion’s operating idea is to create security against robotic weapons.

“We prepare our own systems completely ready. We make them constantly, and we deliver them very quickly,” says Rasila.

Airfence, sold by the Vantaa company, is a tool for electronic warfare and a signal intelligence unit. In practice, it is therefore a computer with software radios and parts capable of efficient radio signal processing. The price of one system, including taxes, is around 200,000 euros.

Observation system export to Israel has required permission from the authorities and the Minister of Defense Antti Häkkänen (kok) has issued one for one device in January.

The store has not been on public display before. Helsingin Sanomat received information about the export permit through an information request to the ministry. The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that the device is for defense purposes.

Minister Häkkänen did not respond to HS’s request for comment by early evening on Monday.

Parliamentary parties Left Alliance is objected to The arms trade with Israel, while the right-wing and especially the Christian Democrats have supported Israel’s policy.

Finland in April voted For the resolution of the UN Human Rights Council, which demanded, among other things, the suspension of arms sales to Israel, if there is reason to suspect that weapons are being used for human rights violations.

In April, the president Alexander Stubb also announced that the strained relations between Iran and Israel will have an impact to future arms sales between Finland and Israel. Finland decided last year acquire Israel’s air defense system.

Airfence with additional parts is the only product of the Finnish company. The systems are in demand partly because there are different modifications of the device for urban environments and undeveloped areas. Some versions only listen and others also send a signal, which means they can disrupt and shoot down an approaching and dangerous drone.

It is unclear whether the Finnish system was operational when Iran attacked Israel with missiles and drones in mid-April. It is possible, because the Finnish company’s delivery times are short.

It is also unclear how the information about the Finnish system that protects against drones has reached the Israeli defense administration.

“On a general level, I can say that when we did things in the United States, it left a pretty big footprint. We received good publicity from the cooperation with the US Marines globally, and it has spawned discussions,” says Rasila.

Managing director Rasila generally talks about “demanding customers” who want to buy only the best.

“They hardly buy just because they like a small Finnish company,” says Rasila.

“Of course, I’m stuck in saying this, but our device is in many ways the world’s best product in its own series.”

Sensofusion’s turnover has multiplied in recent years and most of its sales are directed abroad. The company’s turnover was almost two million euros in 2022 and already more than seven million last year. Sensofusion’s development work has been funded by Business Finland and the US Army.

The growth continues.

“This year we are already ahead of last year,” says Rasila.

in Gaza Israel’s armed forces launched their operation after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023. The Iranian-backed Hezbollah extremist organization and Israel are striking each other again in the Israel-Lebanon border region.

According to Israeli officials, 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage in the Hamas attack. According to the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health, more than 37,200 Palestinians have died in Israel’s military operations in Gaza.