Space has an economic, technological and military dimension. The military use of space means that space, and especially information gathered and delivered through satellites, is exploited for military purposes. Space defence consists of activities to protect and defend space infrastructure and its operations. Space warfare refers to active measures to weaken or limit the adversary’s capacity in space.
Space is an increasingly important domain for defence, and it has quickly gained significance in the armed forces. Rapid developments in the space domain and the exploitation of space are taken into account in the defence system development. We must exploit space to ensure the efficiency of our defence system and to protect ourselves against threats from space. This calls for new kinds of expertise and the development of future capabilities.
The pace of advancements in space technology is accelerating, and space services are becoming more widely available. Close collaboration between the defence administration and industry and research institutes is a necessity for the development of space capabilities, which underlines the importance of partnerships and international cooperation.
Space and the defence administration
The Ministry of Defence is responsible for the space policy of its branch of government, which it coordinates together with the divisions of the Defence Command Finland. In accordance with the rules of procedure, the Ministry’s departments are responsible for the guidance and direction of the defence administration’s space policy and its space-related capability projects. The Ministry is also responsible for the general guidance and oversight of the Finnish Defence Forces’ activities in space as laid down in the Space Activities Act (63/2018).
The Ministry of Defence has representatives in the Finnish Space Committee and its secretariat and working groups. The Committee, set up by the Government, operates under the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. It guides and oversees the implementation of Finland’s Space Strategy. The national strategy was updated in 2024 under the leadership of the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.
The Finnish defence administration will draw up a space strategy for defence, outlining developments in the space domain and specifying the defence administration’s objectives, priorities and measures in space.
