Finnish Defence Forces to procure more Finnish naval mines

Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to procure naval mines, support and testing equipment and their spare parts. The Finnish company Forcit Oy will supply the mines.

The procurement is part of the naval minelaying project of the Finnish Navy’s maritime defence development programme. Naval minelaying aims to secure a favourable maritime battlespace for the defender by restricting access to marine areas or by denying movement in certain marine areas. It can also create depth in defence.

Minister Häkkänen is pleased that such an important weapons system is in domestic control: “Finland has exceptional capabilities and expertise in naval minelaying in the Defence Forces and, of course, in the domestic industry. We have noticed in recent years that the changed security situation has also created a demand for Finnish naval mine expertise among our Allies. The defence administration is actively promoting new export opportunities for Finnish products in this field, too.”

Inquiries: Captain (N) Mikko Laakkonen, Chief of Planning, Navy Command Finland, tel. +358 299 800 (switchboard).