The Finnish Defence Forces have engaged in space-related activities for years, focusing on surveillance, communications, and space situational awareness. A formal Command of Space is being established within the Air Force to centralise these functions under unified leadership.
Collaboration with Nordic countries—Norway, Sweden, and Denmark—is already in progress, with Finland aligning its efforts through the National Strategy for Finland’s Space Activities. Coordination extends to civilian institutions such as the Finnish Meteorological Institute and the National Land Survey, managed via the Finnish Space Committee.
One tangible initiative is the planned Space Operations Centre, which will provide a real-time operational picture from space and relay satellite-derived information—such as changes in deployments, weapons positions, or ballistic missile threats—to military stakeholders including army corps.
International cooperation features prominently, notably with the U.S. Space Force, NATO, and Nordic partners. The Commander participated in a spring meeting of space commanders in Colorado, underscoring Finland’s commitment to deep bilateral and classified partnerships.
The review also draws attention to Finland’s commercial space capabilities, particularly ICEYE. With a constellation of over 50 SAR satellites, ICEYE is regarded as a global leader and was recently acknowledged at a U.S. Space Force seminar. Finland has signed a letter of intent to procure satellite imaging capacity from ICEYE to support national authorities.
The Air Force statement stresses that space capabilities are now critical across sectors—supporting communication, positioning, timing, weather forecasting, and even environmental monitoring like forest fires. It further emphasises that most weapon systems depend on space-based services for positioning and timing, making it vital to secure these assets continually.
Overall, the Finnish Air Force report presents a comprehensive and methodical approach to integrating space into national defence. Through phased implementation, coordination across civilian and military agencies, and a blend of domestic and international partnerships, Finland is aiming to solidify its space operations and secure its strategic position in the evolving multi-domain security environment.
Source: Finnish Air Force.
