Construction of the Finnish Navy’s third Pohjanmaa-class multi-purpose corvette began on August 26 2025 with the traditional steel cutting ceremony.
Finnish Armed Forces press release
The steel cutting ceremony marked the start of the ship’s hull construction with the ceremonial cutting of the first steel plates. The event was attended by personnel from the Navy, the Finnish Defense Forces Logistics Command, and Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) the builder of the ship, as well as representatives of other stakeholders.
The Pohjanmaa-class project involves the construction of four ice-going multi-purpose corvettes for the Finnish Navy, which will be completed by 2029. The ships will be commissioned in stages between 2027 and 2029.
Production of the first ship began in October 2023, and it was launched in May this year. The ship is currently being fitted out and its systems are being installed. Steel cutting for the second ship began in October 2024, and the hull is currently in the assembly phase.
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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
