After joining NATO, Finland suddenly prepared to face potential direct attacks from Russia. In addition to planning to purchase the David's Sling long-range anti-aircraft missile system from Israel, Finland is also mobilizing a short-range anti-aircraft missile system - SHORAD (Short Range Air Defense).
And speaking of SHORAD, the Scandinavian country has Ito 90, which is a short-range air defense missile system which is the Finnish version of the Crotale NG short-range missile system made in France.
Designed for Finnish requirements, the Ito 90 has several modifications to meet local requirements. One of the obvious ones is the adoption of the Sisu armored chassis as a platform.
The Ito 90 entered service with the Finnish military in 1992. A total of 21 Ito 90s were built with production discontinued in 1993. All operational Ito 90 systems were then modernized between 2007 and 2010. And in 2023, it was reported that all Ito 90 airborne systems in full operational condition.
As a point air defense system, the Ito 90 is designed to protect important stationary assets, such as airfields, military bases, ammunition depots, bridges, power plants and other assets from enemy aircraft, helicopters and missile attacks.
Referring to Crotale NG, the Ito 90 airborne missile system uses VT-1 surface-to-air missiles with a maximum range of 11 km and a maximum altitude of 6 km. Each missile carries a 13 kg high explosive warhead and has a lethal radius of 8 meters. The VT-1 missile can accelerate up to Mach 3.5 (1 160 meters per second).
In theory, it would be very difficult for the target to avoid the Uberan VT-1, because this missile can maneuver up to 35G, while the pilot can only hold no more than 9-10G.
The VT-1 missile operates using a radio command guidance system. In combat simulation, the radar on the vehicle sends signals where the missiles should be aimed. The launcher vehicle also has optical guidance capabilities via TV and infrared cameras. The two guidance methods make it possible to launch the missile while the opponent is jamming the radar.
The Ito 90 launch vehicle integrated with the radar is called TELAR. The radar has a detection range of 30 km and can track targets at a distance of 16 km, while the electro-optical sensor system can track targets at a distance of 15 km. For the record, only one missile can be guided to a target at a time. The reaction time from the moment the target is detected to the missile launch is 5 seconds.
In one go, TELAR can carry eight missiles ready to fire. The Ito 90 has an engagement and acquisition radar carried by the same vehicle (TELAR), so that each TELAR vehicle is capable of operating autonomously. There is a radio link between the different Ito 90 launch vehicles. In addition, Ito 90 can also receive data from early warning radars from other units.
From the TELAR specification with a Sisu 6×6 chassis, it weighs 20 tons, dimensions are 7.6 meters long, 2.9 meters wide and 3.5 meters high. TELAR is powered by a Valmet 611 diesel engine developing 236 hp. TELAR can go a maximum of 90 km per hour and a cruising range of 700 km.
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