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Minister of Defence Häkkänen visits Middle East

2026-09-18T08:50:00Z

In Lebanon, Minister of Defence Häkkänen met commanders of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and Finnish peacekeepers serving there. In 2026, Finland is celebrating its 70 years of engagement in international crisis management operations and missions.

“Finland has a long history of peacekeeping, and we are very proud of the professionalism of our peacekeepers. The skills and experience they have gained abroad also benefit the defence of Finland. One objective of this visit is to show our appreciation and respect for the work our current and former peacekeepers have done for crisis management and for Finland’s security,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

In Lebanon, Minister of Defence Häkkänen also met Lebanese President Joseph Khalil Aoun and Minister of National Defence Michel Menassa.

In Israel, Minister Häkkänen met Israeli Minister of Defence Israel Katz. Häkkänen learned about Finland’s future air defence system, David’s Sling, as well as about Israeli civil defence solutions. He also visited companies producing systems that have been procured for the Finnish Defence Forces.

Inquiries: Antti Vesala, Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence, tel. +358 50 511 4844.

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Public consultation round launched on act on international cooperation of Finnish Defence Forces

2026-09-18T08:12:00Z

“We must have legislation that gives the defence administration the best possible support in the changed security environment. The project aims to ensure that our legislation is up to date when it comes to personnel who participate in international cooperation and fit for purpose when it comes to the conscription system,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.

According to the draft bill, Finnish citizens could give the Finnish Defence Forces a written commitment to participate in international cooperation. Such persons would be appointed to a fixed-term public-law employment relationship with the Defence Forces.

The objective is for the Finnish Defence Forces to be able to assign sufficient personnel for comprehensive participation in international cooperation and for the terms of employment to be consistent and unambiguous across international tasks.

An increasing number of persons liable for military service are expected to serve in international contexts. Therefore, the provisions of the Conscription Act on service abroad would be amended so that persons liable for military service could be assigned to participate in international military exercises or training, or perform related service duties, without their express consent if the training or exercise was directly associated with the defence of Finland and took place abroad close to Finland.

The aim is to make it easier to train and exercise those liable for military service outside Finland in neighbouring areas. In practice, this would mean the Baltic Sea as well as Sweden and Norway, because they are directly connected to the defence of Finland through their NATO membership and geographical location.

The draft bill also proposes amendments to the provisions on reservist training so that the maximum total duration of training would be 200 days for all reservists, regardless of military rank. The aim is to ensure the maintenance and continuous development of reservists’ skills and competence.

The bill would implement the objective set out in the 2024 Government Defence Report to review the legislation for the purpose of ensuring the resources necessary for the new duties of the Finnish Defence Forces so that, where necessary, any member of the regular personnel of the Defence Forces could be assigned to any statutory task of the Defence Forces and that those liable for military service could be assigned more flexibly to tasks of the Defence Forces and NATO both at home and abroad.

Requests for interviews with Minister Häkkänen: Dani Niskanen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 295 140 109.

Inquiries: Anna Gau, Senior Specialist for Legal Affairs, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 085

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Defence Ministeri Häkkänen: The United States supports TNT production in Finland financially

2026-09-15T14:30:00Z

“We decided to build the TNT production facility to meet the critical needs of Finland and NATO. Strengthening our defence industrial base contributes to our overall defence and creates jobs as well as prosperity. We have held discussions together with our Allies on their participation to the project. The financial support of the United States to this project is yet another demonstration of the deep defence cooperation between our countries,” states Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

The new TNT production facility will produce TNT for Finland’s and NATO’s needs and will enable long-term support to Ukraine. Oy Forcit Ab is responsible for the investment and the operation of the production facility.

Inquiries: Frans Peltonen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. 0295 140 021.

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Finland to send another package of defence materiel to Ukraine

2026-09-15T08:36:00Z

The overall value of the package now delivered to Ukraine is around EUR 290 million. The total value of the defence materiel Finland has delivered to Ukraine has reached EUR 3.6 billion. This time the package contains materiel urgently requested by Ukraine. In terms of monetary value, it is the second largest of all the packages Finland has delivered so far.

“Finland continues to support Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia’s unlawful aggression. Throughout the war, we have provided Ukraine with materiel assistance based on its needs. In addition to donating defence materiel from our stockpiles, we have procured products from the Finnish defence industry, some of which are included in this package. In this way, Finland’s support for Ukraine will also strengthen the capacity of our own defence industry,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

For operational reasons and to ensure that the delivery reaches its destination, more detailed information on the content of the assistance, manner of delivery or schedule will not be provided. Both Ukraine’s needs and the resources of the Finnish Defence Forces have been taken into account when deciding on the assistance.

Inquiries: Antti Vesala, Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence, antti.vesala@gov.fi.

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen: Finland and South Korea have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on quality assurance in the defence materiel sector

2026-09-14T12:40:00Z

“The Memorandum of Understanding will strengthen our cooperation with South Korea which is an important partner for Finland. It derives from Finland’s procurement of K9 armoured howitzers from South Korea. The MoU creates opportunities for deeper procurement cooperation between the countries’ defence administrations. It also helps guarantee the quality of technological development in the defence materiel sector. Democratic countries must work together to strengthen our ability to counter the threat posed by authoritarian regimes,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen said.

Inquiries: Björn Enroth, Branch Engineer, Material Unit, Resource Policy Department, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 053.

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen: Finland will join the French initiative on European nuclear deterrence

2026-09-14T08:34:00Z

In March 2026, French President Emmanuel Macron launched an initiative on the European dimension of France’s nuclear deterrence. Eight countries were then announced having joined the initiative, followed by Norway at a later stage. Finland has been discussing joining the initiative with France. The two countries have now concluded their talks and have issued a joint statement on Finland joining the nuclear deterrence initiative.

“The French initiative will strengthen Europe’s increasingly active approach to defence. Its objective is to reinforce security and deterrence across Europe,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen says.

“France is a European nuclear power that plays a key role in strengthening the defence of Europe. Finland joining the French initiative will significantly deepen our bilateral defence cooperation with France and strengthen the security of Finland. This is a natural step as our close allies Norway, Sweden and Denmark have already joined the initiative.”

The French initiative does not replace or overlap with NATO’s nuclear deterrence. NATO’s nuclear deterrence is based on nuclear-sharing arrangements and relies on the United States’ extended deterrent. It is ultimately the supreme guarantee of the security of the Alliance.
NATO’s nuclear deterrence has been enhanced with renewed determination in recent years. Finland contributes to that work. France’s sovereign nuclear deterrence promotes the overall security of the Alliance and Europe.

“Each country joining the French initiative will define itself its pace of engagement. The French initiative is different from NATO’s nuclear deterrence. The joining countries will not have obligations like NATO's collective defence. Moreover, France is not asking the other countries to contribute to the costs of maintaining the nuclear deterrence,” Minister Häkkänen says.

As a first step after the signing of the joint statement, officials will discuss how the cooperation will be initiated. Next, the Finnish defence administration will start preparing for negotiations with France on how the cooperation will proceed in concrete terms.

In his speech, President Macron coined the term ‘forward deterrence’ (dissuasion avancée) to describe the European dimension of the French nuclear deterrence. Despite the initiative, the French nuclear doctrine will retain its strictly defensive character. France will not provide an alternative nuclear umbrella for the countries joining the initiative. The nuclear weapons and any decisions that are essential to protect vital French interests will remain at the sole discretion of France. The cooperation is shaped by the interests of each joining country.

“Examples of possible forms of cooperation include dialogue on the French nuclear doctrine, joint exercises where the joining country is an observer or contributes conventional capabilities or, ultimately, the temporary deployment of elements of French strategic air forces in the allied country”, says Minister of Defence Häkkänen.

The initiative is not in conflict with the international obligations of the joining countries. Key international agreements, such as the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, will apply as before.

“Europe must assume a greater role both in conventional defence and in nuclear burden sharing. Discussions on reinforcing nuclear deterrence and strengthening the security of Europe are essential for Finland’s defence,” Häkkänen says.

Due to an official trip abroad, Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen will not hold a press conference on the matter.

Interview requests for the Minister should be directed to Special Adviser Dani Niskanen at tel. 0295 140 109.

Inquiries: Janne Kuusela, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence. Contact Jukka Matilainen, Head of Communication, tel. +358 295 160 086 or viestinta.plm@gov.fi.

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen decides on Finnish Defence Forces’ participation in international training and exercises in 2027

2026-09-11T05:18:00Z

“By actively engaging in training and exercises with our allies, we show our defence capability and further improve the operational and other capabilities we need for our defence. The Finnish Defence Forces’ international training and exercise plan for 2027 has 134 exercises or exercise settings in Finland and abroad,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

Finland’s NATO membership, our deepening defence cooperation with the United States, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, France and other important allies, and the evolving security environment have wide ranging effects on the international training and exercises of the Finnish Defence Forces.

“Next year, a particular focus will be on the training and exercises of NATO’s permanent presence in Finland, that is, the Multi-Corps Land Component Command (MCLCC) in Mikkeli and the Forward Land Forces (FLF) in Lapland,” Minister Häkkänen said.

“We are also keeping track of technological advances in conflicts and the battlefield. We analyse carefully our observations and integrate the lessons learned into the training and exercises of the Finnish Defence Forces,” Häkkänen said.

International exercises are an integral part of the Finnish Defence Forces’ daily exercises. In practice, there are always Allied forces in Finland who are either engaged in, preparing for or concluding exercises.

“We have Allied forces exercising in Finland almost every day and, increasingly, for extended periods,” Häkkänen said.

The Finnish Defence Forces will provide more information about the training and exercises closer to the date of each event.

Inquiries: Mika Varvikko, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 316.

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Finnish Defence Forces to procure new mortar systems

2026-09-08T08:59:00Z

The Finnish Army developed the new heavy Modular Mobile Mortar (M3) system together with the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command and Patria. The Army has been using a pre-series system in training since the beginning of 2026.

The overall value of the contract, excluding value added tax, is EUR 49.9 million. The contract and its options allow the Army to procure hundreds of mortar systems. The domestic employment effect is approximately 130 person-years.

“We are procuring a Finnish mortar system that will significantly enhance the performance of infantry fire support. Being Finnish-made will guarantee security of supply for components and spare parts. The system is also highly cost-effective, largely thanks to its use of existing and tried-and-tested components, as well as an earlier framework agreement on inertial navigation systems,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

Conscript training using pre-series mortars is already underway, and the first weapons of the new series will be ready in the autumn.

Heavy mortars are used to provide support for forces in combat. Mortar systems are part of the combined fires of the Finnish Army, and their role will become more prominent as the forces’ organic heavy indirect fire units. They enable quick and accurate engagement with the enemy even when other systems, such as unmanned aerial vehicles, cannot be used.

Inquiries: Jussi Ristimäki, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 072. Contact the Finnish Defence Forces via its media service media.puolustusvoimat@mil.fi.

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Possible territorial violation by unmanned aerial vehicle in Gulf of Finland

2026-09-02T10:44:00Z

“The Finnish Border Guard and the police are investigating the incident,” Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen says.

The Finnish Border Guard will provide more information on the matter as the investigation proceeds.

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Finland and Sweden are deepening cooperation on territorial surveillance and protection of territorial integrity

2026-08-28T08:00:00Z

Finland and Sweden will jointly enhance Finland’s ability to detect and counter drones. This is complementary to ongoing Finnish national measures in response to recent drone incursions, a consequence of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. This demonstrates both countries’ ability to act together and take responsibility for security in the region and on NATO’s eastern flank.

Minister of Defence of Finland, Antti Häkkänen: “Air and maritime cooperation has already been an integral part of our bilateral and Nordic cooperation, and now we move forward to cooperate on territorial surveillance and protection of territorial integrity. By working together, we are strengthening NATO deterrence and defence”.

Minister of Defence of Sweden, Pål Jonson: “As members of NATO, collective defence is a core element of our cooperation. As Allies, we have a common view on ensuring strong and capable deterrence and defence in our region and on the eastern flank. We are constantly developing our ability to act together with our Allies, reviewing available means for effective contributions”.

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New research helps Finland develop preparedness and comprehensive security

2026-08-27T06:10:00Z

The co-research project set out to examine which critical functions of society are essential under all conditions. It also studied future trends and drivers of change that impact critical functions of society.

According to the research report, a shift towards a holistic approach is needed: criticality in society is not a fixed list of services and infrastructure but a changing context-dependent phenomenon that emerges from needs and interdependencies. The report presents eleven recommendations for assessing critical functions.

“The research gives an up-to-date overview of the critical functions of our society and of their interdependencies and future trends. Its premise is a shift towards a dynamic and holistic approach where the interdependencies of functions make disruptions in one function spread to others. The research has produced valuable information that we can use in strategic planning and decision-making and to improve our comprehensive security. All this will make our society better prepared,” says Janne Kuusela, Chair of the Security Committee and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence.

Petteri Korvala, Chair of the Monitoring Group for the research project and Secretary General of the Security Committee, hopes that the research report will spark comprehensive debate, strengthen our common understanding of critical functions of society and give concrete advice on how Finland’s resilience could be improved in the long term.

The research project is part of the Government’s and ministries’ joint research and development activities (VN Tutkiva), which aim to support the Government’s decision-making and policy preparation.

Research report: Suomen yhteiskunnan kriittiset toiminnot ja tulevaisuuden trendit (in Finnish)

Inquiries:

Petteri Korvala, Secretary General of the Security Committee, tel. +358 295 140 700
Kari Pelkonen, Senior Specialist, Secretariat of the Security Committee, tel. +358 295 140 118
Ville Elo, Senior Specialist, tel. +358 295 140 202

Email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname(at)gov.fi

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen: Oulu 5G/6G project to receive government grant of EUR 4.8 million

2026-08-14T13:15:00Z

In its programme, the Government of Prime Minister Petteri Orpo established the programme for northern Finland with the goal of improving Finland’s security of supply and self-sufficiency in a changed security environment The work will pay particular attention to the new geopolitical situation and routes to the west, and will help to strengthen security as part of Nordic, EU and NATO cooperation.

In its 2025 mid-term policy review, the Government decided to set up a project consortium for the programme with members from central government, the University of Oulu, key research and development actors and businesses. The consortium’s tasks would be to ensure the development of 5G/6G expertise in Finland and solidify Finland’s position as a leader in wireless technologies. The NATO DIANA 6G Test Centre in Oulu tests resilient 5G/6G systems that improve monitoring, situational awareness and the protection of infrastructure and are capable of operating in challenging environments.

“The programme for northern Finland aims to strengthen Finland’s security of supply in a changed security environment. This 5G/6G development project will intensify cooperation between actors in the research and development community – this way, we can advance Finland’s high-tech expertise while also enhancing our security,” said Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

The funding will be allocated to research that strengthens the industrial base and RDI expertise needed for homeland defence. The aim is for the research being launched now to be utilised in the coming years and to be eligible for further funding from international funding sources as well. The objectives have been reconciled with the needs of the defence administration so that Finland can genuinely become a leading expert in resilient 5G/6G systems able to operate in challenging environments.

The new project consortium will have the following tasks:

1) ensuring the development of 5G/6G expertise in Finland and solidifying Finland’s position as a leader in wireless technologies;

2) supporting the use of 5G/6G technology in fulfilling the needs of total and homeland defence; and

3) supporting Finland’s participation in innovating future communications solutions within NATO and as part of the European Union.

In addition to the University of Oulu, the consortium will consist of other Finnish research institutes and higher education institutions as well as businesses.

Inquiries: Matti Ikonen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 29 5140182.

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen approves construction of new multi-purpose building for Army Academy in Lappeenranta

2026-08-14T05:42:00Z

According to Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen, the project will improve the Army Academy’s operating conditions and enable the long-term development of training and accommodation activities.

“The new modern facilities will support the Defence Forces’ ability to act. They will also ensure that both the personnel and conscripts have access to healthy, safe and suitable facilities. At the same time, the project supports the defence administration’s long-term management of buildings across their life-cycle,” says Minister Häkkänen.

Accommodation at Lappeenranta garrison is currently provided in old barracks and partly in leased facilities outside the garrison area. Demand for accommodation in the area is increasing, and some of the current teaching facilities no longer meet operational requirements.

On 13 August 2026, the Ministerial Finance Committee supported the project proposal put forward by the Ministry of Defence, and Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen decided to launch the project on 14 August 2026.

In addition to providing accommodation for 200 people, the new building will feature six classrooms and the Army Academy library. The library will also offer spaces for photography and the production of learning material. The facilities will be designed to be modern, healthy and safe and to serve operations in the area long into the future. The construction will also enable the gradual renovation of existing accommodation buildings at a later stage without the need for separate temporary facilities.

The project will be implemented in accordance with the Finnish Defence Forces’ concept for work and learning environments. Planning will take account of the space and energy efficiency targets in the central government premises strategy, as well as the requirements for low-carbon construction and life-cycle sustainability.

The new building will have a floor space of approximately 5,500 square metres, and the project’s estimated cost, excluding value added tax, is EUR 17.2 million.

Defence Properties Finland will oversee the construction project, which is expected to be completed by the end of 2028.

Inquiries: Antti Vesala, Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 099, antti.vesala(at)gov.fi

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen approves construction of new headquarters building for NATO command in Mikkeli

2026-08-14T05:35:00Z

According to Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen, the project will reinforce Finland’s position as part of NATO’s northern defence while generating positive impacts on the regional economy and employment.

“This project will further highlight Mikkeli’s strategic importance in the defence of Finland and NATO’s High North. The new facilities will ensure long-term operating conditions for the NATO command in Finland and establish Mikkeli as a key location for the Alliance’s military command in the northern region. Moreover, the project is expected to have positive impacts on the region’s economy and employment,” says Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen.

The project will be financed through NATO common funding, meaning that all NATO member states will contribute to the costs. Defence Minister Häkkänen decided to launch the project on 14 August 2026 after the Ministerial Finance Committee gave its support, on 13 August 2026, to the proposal put forward by the Ministry of Defence.

The decision to establish NATO’s Multi-Corps Land Component Command North in Finland was adopted at the NATO summit held in summer 2024. Following this, Defence Minister Häkkänen decided the command would be placed in Mikkeli, the base of Army Command Finland.

The project includes the construction of a new headquarters building and the auxiliary structures and infrastructure required for its operation. The size and quality standards of construction are based on NATO’s minimum requirements. This means the spaces will be constructed appropriately and cost-effectively, while ensuring that they meet the required standards for operational reliability, security and durability. Construction will also comply with national legislation and the central government premises strategy and energy efficiency targets. The project covers approximately 2,030 square metres and its estimated cost is EUR 19.4 million, excluding value added tax.

The construction project will be overseen by Defence Properties Finland, and the new building is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.

Inquiries: Antti Vesala, Special Adviser to the Minister of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 099, antti.vesala(at)gov.fi

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Anu Nousiainen appointed Director General of Administration Policy Department at Finland’s Ministry of Defence

2026-07-09T11:58:00Z

Anu Nousiainen is currently serving as Director of Administrative Governance and Development at the Ministry of Finance. She has previously worked in the Public Governance Department at the Ministry of Finance as Head of Unit and in expert roles associated with central government development. She has also served as Administrative Director at the Regional State Administrative Agency for Southern Finland and in the municipal sector and as Ministerial Adviser and Senior Officer at the Ministry of the Interior.

The Administration Policy Department at the Ministry of Defence is responsible for the operational and financial planning of the defence administration and for the development of its organisation and structures. It is also responsible for matters related to legislation, law drafting and strategic level security and includes the Ministry’s internal audit service.

Inquiries: Kati Virtanen, Director of the Personnel Unit, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 435.

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Finnish Minister of Defence Häkkänen: A multinational programme will be built around Patria’s new tracked vehicle

2026-07-07T11:43:00Z

Patria TRACKX is a new generation tracked all-terrain vehicle designed to survive demanding and arctic conditions where high mobility and performance are a necessity. It was developed as part of the joint European Future Highly Mobile Augmented Armoured Systems (FAMOUS) programme. Patria plans to bring TRACKX into serial production in 2027–2028. Sweden, too, is involved in the pre-series procurement phase and product development through separate agreements with Finland.

“Multinational cooperation is the best way to build the capabilities we need to safeguard the security and defence capabilities of Europe. The Finnish defence administration and industry had great success with the CAVS programme, and I am glad of the level of trust there is for our expertise in the development of this new all-terrain vehicle designed for demanding conditions,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

A multinational joint programme, like the Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) programme, is being prepared around Patria TRACKX under Finland’s leadership. The programme would also form part of the Eastern Flank Watch (EWF) initiative, which aims to ensure the security of the easternmost EU Member States.

Arctic mobility has been identified as a development area where the focus is on improving the protected operational mobility of forces. It has attracted wide interest not only in the Nordic countries but also in countries that need to operate in the north or in the mountains.

“The Arctic is a key priority for security policy in Finland and in NATO. The TRACKX programme will bring concrete improvements to our ability to operate in arctic conditions,” Minister Häkkänen said.

Inquiries: Olli Ruutu, Director General, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 400, and Jussi Ristimäki, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 072.

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Finnish Minister of Defence Häkkänen signs 12 agreements in Ankara to boost defence industry

2026-07-07T09:30:00Z

A replacement for NATO’s manned surveillance aircraft, an asset owned and operated by NATO, was announced at the Defence Industry Forum. A multinational joint procurement will purchase up to 10 Saab GlobalEye aircraft for use by NATO. In another effort to improve NATO’s air surveillance capabilities, a letter of intent was signed by several member states, including Finland, to procure the same capability for national needs, integrating it with the capability procured for NATO. In addition, a letter of intent was signed at the forum to expand NATO’s intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities by procuring MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft systems.

NATO’s High Visibility Projects

At the Defence Industry Forum, Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen signed several agreements related to NATO’s High Visibility Projects (HVPs). With HVPs, NATO wants to advance the objectives of the NATO Defence Planning Process (NDPP) and create multinational initiatives to encourage countries to develop the same capabilities.

Finland has joined several HVPs, including the Multi Role Tanker Transport Capability (MRTT-C) project where Allies will collectively invest in a fleet of MRTT multi-function aircraft. MRTTs are capable of strategic airlift, medical evacuation as well as air-to-air refuelling, which would be a new capability for Finland. The other HVPs Finland joined concern air defence, space technologies and defence critical raw materials, among other fields.

“Finland is actively involved in capability development within NATO. The agreements signed at the Defence Industry Forum are concrete examples of NATO’s 360-degree approach whereby the Alliance prepares for threats and strengthens its defence across all domains. It is important for Finland that we invest in space technologies, air defence and the Arctic,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

Other agreements signed by the Minister of Defence

At the Defence Industry Forum, Minister of Defence Häkkänen also signed several other agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation among Allies in various fields. For example, Finland joined the statement of intent, presented by the United States, on strengthening the defence industry capacity through procurement coalitions and signed a statement of intent with the United States concerning exploration of industrial cooperation on missiles.

The Minister of Defence signed the following agreements at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum:

Arctic Mobility SoI
Air Defence Capabilities Against Lower-Level Air Threats HVP MoU
Crewed Airborne Early Warning HVP LoI
Defence Critical Raw Materials (DCRM) HVP MoU
Generic NATO Indirect Fire Round (GENIFR) HVP MoU
Hybrid Allied Layered Operations in Space (HALO) HVP LoI
Multi Role Tanker Transport Capability (MRTT) HVP MoU
NATO Flight Training Europe (NFTE)
NISRF Fleet Expansion LoI
Passive Air Surveillance Capabilities HVP MoU
Statement of Intent Concerning Exploration of Industrial Cooperation on AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile
Statement of Intent Concerning the Establishment of Procurement Coalitions

Inquiries: Olli Ruutu, Director General, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 400, and Johanna Hämäläinen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 086.

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Joint statement by Finland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Poland on developing the New Multilateral Defence Mechanism

2026-07-06T14:30:00Z

“Ahead of the Ankara NATO Summit the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Finland, and Poland reiterate our shared commitment to strengthen defence financing and improve the cost-efficiency of defence spending to transform our collective defence capabilities. In light of the rapidly evolving international security environment and the consequences of Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, we shall act together to be prepared to address future threats. We remain committed to supporting Ukraine in defending its sovereignty and resisting Russian aggression.

We are making significant progress to develop the new Multilateral Defence Mechanism together with partners. The MDM is an innovative new financing model intended to accelerate defence investment, stimulate joint procurement, and aggregate demand in critical defence capabilities, with the ultimate objective of meeting the military needs of like-minded allies. We aim to move quickly to formal Treaty negotiations, respecting individual members’ ratification processes, while maintaining the shared ambition of setting up the MDM by 2027. We have benefitted from the support of a wider group of allies in developing the technical details of the model.

To further progress the MDM, the UK, the Netherlands, Finland and Poland will therefore:

work with core partners to expand the MDM into a broader coalition of participants;
build on technical development and move to the next phase of mechanism design and development with subscribed partners during the Autumn
ensure that emerging approaches to international defence financing are aligned and complementary, including by working with other NATO allies on aligning our efforts for increased capability and interoperability"

Inquiries:

Olli Ruutu, Director General, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 400, olli.ruutu(at)gov.fi
Leena Mörttinen, Permanent Under-Secretary, Ministry of Finance, tel. +358 295 530 021, leena.morttinen(at)gov.fi

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Minister of Defence Häkkänen to attend NATO Summit in Ankara

2026-07-03T10:17:00Z

Minister of Defence Häkkänen will attend the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum (NSDIF26) and a working dinner of NATO defence ministers.

The Defence Industry Forum aims to promote dialogue between NATO, Allied political leaders and senior officials and the industry. A cross-section of Finnish defence industry companies will be joining the forum.

“Several long-negotiated defence industry projects will be published at the NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum in Ankara. Finland will be joining most of the initiatives that are focused on developing and producing capabilities. Our efforts will focus on translating our defence investments into concrete capabilities and making NATO’s deterrence and defence stronger,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen said.

Inquiries: Johanna Hämäläinen, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence (NATO Summit Defence Industry Forum), tel. +358 295 140 086. Requests for interviews with Minister Häkkänen: Dani Niskanen, Special Adviser, tel. +358 415 444 967.

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Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen: Finland’s ground-based air defence will have stronger areal coverage

2026-07-03T08:55:00Z

Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has authorised the Finnish Defence Forces to procure short-range RBS 70 NG ground-based air defence (GBAD) systems from the Swedish Saab. The procurement will strengthen the areal coverage of GBAD across Finland.
The RBS 70 NG is an advanced version of the Finnish Defence Forces’ mobile surface-to-air missile system ITO05M. The features of the new system will improve Finland’s capabilities to counter both unmanned and manned aerial vehicles.
“We are developing Finland’s air defence system against a full range of threats. Safeguarding our preparedness requires appropriate and modern systems for each type of threat. This procurement is only one component of a larger package,” Minister of Defence Häkkänen says.
Regular personnel, conscripts and reservists will be trained mainly by the Salpausselkä Air Defence Battalion of the Karelia Brigade.
The procurement consists of munitions, training equipment and a maintenance system. Its overall value, without value added tax, is EUR 108 million. The capability will be fully operational by the end of the 2020s.
Inquiries: Jussi Ristimäki, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Defence, tel. +358 295 140 072, and Colonel Mano-Mikael Nokelainen, Inspector of Ground-based Air Defence, Army Command Finland, tel. +358 299 800 (Finnish Defence Forces’ switchboard).

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