Finland to buy $177-mln military plane from Airbus

HELSINKI May 5 (Reuters) - Finland will buy a military transport aircraft for 136.7 million euros ($177.3 million) from European planemaker Airbus (EAD.PA) as it replaces old equipment, the Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.

"The agreement is intended to be signed this month," Jari Takanen, an official at the ministry, told Reuters.

Takanen said Airbus would deliver the aircraft -- a Military Casa C-295M used for tactical purposes -- with defence contractor Lockheed Martin (LMT.N) supplying its system.

Takanen said the value of the order was 136.7 million euros, including value-added tax. ($1=.7709 Euro) (Reporting by Eva Lamppu; Editing by Hans Peters)