The cutting of the first steel of the project, a key program for the Finnish Navy as the force is slated to have retired three heavy minelayers and four light fast attack craft by the end of the decade and replaced them by four heavy corvettes, was delayed by a year due to a combination of issues.
These included securing a competent workforce for the first surface warfare vessels built in-country in decades, delays with finalising the design, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Navy is however confident that it will be able to claw back most of the delays, in part through running the eventual sea trials in parallel for several of vessels instead of doing it in series as originally planned.
The Navy, however, acknowledged that this does somewhat increase the risk of reworks. That is, if there are teething troubles identified with the first vessel, the building of the other three will be somewhat further along than originally planned.
ESSM Block 2 for the Finnish Corvettes
Other changes have also been announced this month, including changes to the air defence weaponry. The original plan was for the main air defence weapon to be quad-packed Raytheon Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles (ESSM) Block 1 in Mk 41 vertical-launch tubes of an undisclosed length. With the introduction of the ESSM Block 2, it has however been decided to switch to the latest version of the classic missile for the Finnish vessels as well.
The Block 2 employs the same rear section as the Block 1, including the same rocket engine and thrust vectoring steering. However, it has a completely new seeker head with its own X-band radar allowing for active homing will bring a major increase in capability, while at the same time keeping the option of relying on the ship’s own radar for semi-active engagements as well. A major benefit of the active seeker head is when engaging multiple targets, such as waves of anti-ship or cruise missiles, as it will decrease reliance on the ship’s targeting channels.
The changes to the weaponry will bring some changes to the electronics of the vessel and its combat management system, and the ability to implement these from the start is a major driver behind making this decision as early as possible.
The Pohjanmaa-class corvettes will be unique, truely Finnish Corvettes, combining the traditional surface vessel roles of air defence, anti-submarine warfare, and surface warfare, with the ability to lay significant amounts of mines, while also having ice-reinforced hulls to allow for year-round operations in the harsh conditions of the Baltic Sea. At the same time, Finland’s recent NATO-membership also means that the vessels will be able to participate in rotational deployments as part of NATO’s Standing Maritime Groups.
