“In the Finnish Defence Forces leveraging artificial intelligence and datacentric command and control, information and knowledge management, means that our working procedures and culture will change,” said Chief of Defence, General Janne Jaakkola. “We need to be forerunners also in this field, in military national defence. To achieve this objective, we continuously search for the best competence and partners to support us in this development and ensure our capability to react to rapidly changing security threats. Strong cooperation guarantees the necessary competence and competitiveness in this race.”
The strategy outlines a clear move towards the proactive use of structured data, practical experience, and analytics-supported decision-making to improve efficiency and responsiveness. It highlights the importance of facilitating intelligence, systematic personnel upskilling, and the integration of advanced technologies into daily operations.
“It involves transitioning to datacentric command and control in which structural data is combined with the practical experience of service personnel,” explained Lieutenant Colonel Jussi Tuovinen from the Defence Command C5 DIV. “This will support decision-making and make operating increasingly efficient. Alongside information and knowledge management, top technologies and product development capacities will be emphasized. In particular, cooperation with partners will be in a key role since partners sport the necessary competences.”
The FDF’s approach reflects a broader need to respond swiftly to Europe’s shifting security environment and the rapid pace of technological change. By piloting a new cooperative development model with industry, the FDF aims to integrate operational needs directly into joint innovation processes.
The FDF is also preparing to establish the AI Centre of Excellence to consolidate expertise, development capabilities, and partnership networks focused on applying AI in defence contexts. Existing collaborations with research institutes, universities and tech firms will continue under the new strategy, with resilience and operational strength as guiding principles.
The partnership with NestAI, beginning in 2025, has already accelerated internal AI efforts within the FDF. NestAI, backed by PostScriptum and chaired by Peter Sarlin, specialises in intelligent unmanned systems and command-and-control solutions across defence and security sectors.
“The competitiveness of Finland and Europe in the AI market is essential to ensuring our security,” said Peter Sarlin. “In line with PostScriptum’s mission, NestAI is committed to building next-generation physical AI and strengthening Europe’s defense capabilities in cooperation with the Finnish Defence Forces and other European partners. Our collaboration with the Defence Forces has gotten off to a strong start, and we are pleased to see how even a large organization can adapt quickly when necessary.”
