Finland May Have Quietly Handed Ukraine Its Rare ItO 90M Air Defense Fleet

Oct 23, 2026 17:01

3 min read

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Vlad Litnarovych

News Writer

Ukraine has now publicly confirmed the presence of Finland’s rare ItO 90M systems, showing that the launchers had been transferred without prior announcement and are already integrated into the country’s air-defense network against cruise missiles, aircraft, and jet-powered drones.

The Finnish ItO 90M short-range surface-to-air missile system appeared for the first time in footage released by Ukraine’s 1039th Anti-Aircraft Missile Regiment, according to Defense Express on October 23.

Until now, there had been no public indication that Ukraine had received the system. Finland never announced a transfer, and it remains unclear when the launchers arrived or how many were supplied.

The footage nevertheless indicates that the systems are already operational and being used in Ukraine’s air-defense network.

Finland’s Crotale on wheels

The ItO 90M is essentially Finland’s version of the French Crotale NG air-defense system, mounted on the Sisu XA-181 armored personnel carrier chassis.

Ukraine has already operated French Crotale NG systems since 2022, but the French military uses them primarily in a towed configuration. Finland’s version gives the system significantly greater mobility by integrating it onto an armored vehicle.

Both versions fire the VT-1 interceptor missile.

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The missile can engage targets at ranges of up to 15 kilometers and altitudes of around 9 kilometers. It can accelerate to approximately 1,250 meters per second—about Mach 3.6, or roughly 2,800 mph—and carries a 13-kilogram warhead.

Those characteristics make the system suitable for engaging aircraft and helicopters, but Defense Express notes that its capabilities are particularly relevant for Ukraine because it can also intercept cruise missiles and high-speed UAVs, including Russia’s newer jet-powered drones.

Secret transfer of a rare system

The biggest unanswered question is how many ItO 90Ms Finland may have supplied.

Finland acquired just one prototype and 20 production systems during the 1990s, meaning its entire original inventory amounted to only 21 launchers.

Even if all the systems survived and remained serviceable, the fleet was tiny from the outset.

Defense Express therefore raises the possibility that Finland may have chosen to transfer a significant portion—or potentially even its entire remaining ItO 90M inventory—to Ukraine rather than retain a handful of systems requiring their own maintenance, training, and logistical support.

There is currently no confirmation that all 21 were transferred, however, and neither Helsinki nor Kyiv has disclosed the number delivered.

Already defending Ukrainian skies

Whatever the size of the transfer, the first public footage confirms that at least some Finnish ItO 90Ms are no longer sitting in storage or training units—they are already being used by Ukrainian air-defense troops.

Their appearance comes as Ukraine faces a rapidly evolving Russian aerial threat, including faster jet-powered drones that place greater demands on short-range air defenses.

With VT-1 missiles capable of speeds well above Mach 3, the Finnish systems provide another layer between Ukraine’s cheaper interceptor drones and its more expensive long-range air-defense systems.

Previously, reports emerged that Finland is already preparing its 36th military aid package for Ukraine, with a decision on its approval expected before the end of 2026.

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