The keel of the second Pohjanmaa-class multi-role corvette, part of the Squadron 2020 programme, was laid at Rauma shipyard on Thursday, 8 May 2025. The keel laying ceremony is a traditional and symbolically significant milestone in shipbuilding, marking the official start of hull assembly.
Finnish MoD press release
Construction of the second corvette began in October 2024. During the ceremony held in Rauma Marine Constructions’ (RMC) multi-purpose hall, the vessel’s keel block was placed on the building blocks, and traditional lucky coins were laid beneath it. In addition to RMC personnel, the ceremony was attended by representatives from the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command, the Finnish Navy, weapons system supplier Saab, and the classification society Lloyd’s Register.
The keel of the first multi-role corvette was laid in April 2024, and its hull was completed in December the same year. The vessel is currently being prepared for launching. The Squadron 2020 project is scheduled for completion by 2029.
RMC and its subsidiary RMC Defence Oy are building a total of four Pohjanmaa-class corvettes for the Finnish Navy. The vessels are designed for year-round operations in the demanding and variable conditions of the Baltic Sea. Their capabilities include naval mine-laying, anti-submarine warfare, securing sea lines of communication, and sustained maritime presence.
-End-
About Pohjanmaa-Class Corvette
The Pohjanmaa-class corvettes (Squadron 2020 program) will be constructed in Finland. They will be multi role surface combatants with ice breaking capabilities. The construction contract (worth 647.6 million Euros) was awarded to Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions in September 2019. The construction of the four corvettes was set to start in 2022 and end in 2025. Sea trials are expected to begin in 2024. Full operational status of the entire Pohjanmaa-class with the Finnish Navy is expected to be achieved by 2028.
Saab was selected in September 2019 to provide and integrate the combat system and sensors of the corvettes. The vessels will be equipped with ESSM surface to air missiles, Gabriel V anti-ship missiles and Torpedo 47 torpedoes. Kongsberg will equip the vessels with its SS2030 and SD9500 sonars. Patria will supply the Sonac DTS variable depth sonar.
Saab will provide a wide range of systems and solutions for the Pohjanmaa corvettes, including:
- Trackfire Remote Weapon Station
- TactiCall integrated communication system
- Saab Lightweight Integrated Mast (SLIM)
- Sea Giraffe 4A Fixed Face radar
- Sea Giraffe 1X radar
- Saab’s new lightweight torpedo
- Ceros 200 radar and electro-optical director
- Saab Naval Laser Warning System
Together with the existing four Hamina-class missile boats that have been modernized, the four new corvettes will form the backbone of the Finnish Navy from the mid-2020s. They will replace seven older vessels that have been or are due to be decommissioned: the single Pohjanmaa and two Hämeenmaa-class minelayers as wll as four Rauma-class missile boats.
Pohjanmaa-class Corvette main characteristics
Length: 114 m (374 ft)
Beam: 16 m (52 ft)
Displacement: 3,900 tonnes (3,800 long tons; 4,300 short tons)
Crew: 70 to 120 sailors
