The second corvette reached the launch stage less than a year after keel laying. The first vessel in the class was launched one year ago and is now in the outfitting phase, while the keel laying for the third vessel took place in January 2026 and production of the fourth began the same week.
“The multi-purpose corvettes are now in series production and in terms of building technology we represent the highest level,” said RMC chief executive and president Mika Nieminen. “Frame building has proceeded excellently with the second vessel achieving launch readiness in less than a year.”
“At the same time, it has to be admitted that the integration of systems as well electrical engineering works have proven very challenging,” Nieminen added. “This has taught us a lot and we will utilise the lessons learned to the full with the following vessels.”
RMC said it has developed skills and operating models during the production process in a targeted way. The company expects clearer responsibilities, project organisation experience and series production to accelerate work on the third and fourth corvettes.
“Together, we have created a capable national and Nordic ecosystem of military shipbuilding that has accomplished the design and building of an exceptionally complex arctic vessel concept following an excellent learning curve,” said Brigadier General Engineering Juha-Matti Ylitalo, Deputy Chief of the Finnish Defence Forces.
“The knowledge and industrial capability created in the process has attracted also international attention as witnessed by the order book of the shipyard,” Ylitalo added.
Nieminen said cooperation with the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command and the Navy has been close throughout the project. He said technical challenges had been resolved jointly and requirements had been adjusted as the security environment deteriorated.
“During the project, we have together resolved technical challenges and adapted to changes in requirements – the deteriorating security environment has resulted in completely new expectations of capabilities for naval warfare and we have implemented the required changes together with the client to ensure that, when completed, the vessels will meet these requirements,” Nieminen said.
The Squadron 2020 project has a direct employment impact of more than 3,600 person-years in Finland. RMC said its order book also includes two icebreakers for the United States Coast Guard, in addition to the four Finnish Navy corvettes.
The Pohjanmaa-class corvettes are designed for demanding Baltic Sea conditions, including icy winters. The vessels are intended to meet modern naval warfare requirements and form the future operational backbone of the Finnish Navy.
The Finnish Navy is expected to commission the vessels in stages from 2027 to 2029. RMC said the programme demonstrates Finland’s ability to design and build complex naval vessels for Arctic and Baltic operating environments.
