Finnish Defence Force Adopts Savox THOR as its Next generation Combat Headgear System

Savox Communications a leading provider of C4I and communications solutions for defence, security and professional public safety users, has signed a deal with the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) for its newly-developed Tactical Headgear system for changing Operational Requirements – THOR®. The system, unveiled today at IDEX (Stand 06 B41), has been adopted to meet the headgear requirements of the FDF’s Warrior 2020 Programme. The value of the deal is not available.

This initial order is for an undisclosed number of THOR tactical combat headgear systems destined for the FDF. These units will go into acceptance testing and approvals. The initial delivery is part of a rolling contract, which will see a steady ramping up of volume towards mass production later this year, with further options continuing for an undisclosed number of years. The FDF procurement has been handled by the FDF’s joint procurement organisation, the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command, which manages all contracts for the Finnish Air Force, Army and Navy.

Savox is the prime contractor of the consortium behind THOR, with industry partners, Millog Oy and Fy-Composites Oy, contributing night vision and ballistic protection solutions, respectively.

Contract award followed the close co-operation between the THOR industry consortium and FDF.

Lt Col Matti Honkela, programme manager for the Future Warrior 2020 system, explains, “The Warrior 2020 Programme is based on a careful study of soldiers’ needs over an extensive test period. This gave the FDF and the headgear consortium the opportunity to make an evaluation-based analysis on these needs and also time to look at other similar programmes already underway. This allowed us to select their most relevant and important aspects and reject the rest.

“This is our approach, to improve soldiers’ capabilities, and I am convinced that it has led to the emergence of exceptional Warrior 2020 equipment solutions, such as the THOR headgear system from the consortium led by Savox. It’s world class and we are delighted with it.”

Chief Operations Officer at Savox Communications, Jerry Kettunen, said, “We are delighted that all our hard work and co-operation paid off in this deal with the FDF. Savox is an established, long-term supplier to the FDF for communications solutions.

“This deal is a major milestone for us in terms of our successful prime-contractor role with the FDF. It’s also a major step forward for the FDF in terms of the battlefield and operational capabilities of its soldiers, as the force moves away from the use of previous, older generation helmets. Beyond this first contract, we look forward to new prospects for THOR around the world,” Kettunen concluded.