Finnish shipbuilder Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) has launched the Finnish Navy’s (Merivoimat) third Pohjanmaa-class multi-purpose corvette during a formal ceremony at its Rauma shipyard on October 29, 2026.
Procured under the strategic Squadron 2020 (Laivue 2020) fleet modernization project, the milestone marks the successful afloat transition of three of the four planned surface combatants. The first vessel (FNS *Pohjanmaa*) was launched in May 2025, followed by the second in May 2026—both of which are currently undergoing electrical, combat system, and machinery outfitting. With the fourth vessel’s keel laid in August 2026, all four ice-strengthened corvettes are simultaneously progressing through advanced construction phases. Replacing seven legacy surface units, the Pohjanmaa class will form the backbone of Finland’s Baltic Sea defense alongside four modernized Hamina-class fast attack missile craft.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: POHJANMAA-CLASS MULTI-PURPOSE CORVETTE ARCHITECTURE
Program Governance, Shipyard & Acquisition Framework
⚡ Program Authority: Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command / Finnish Navy (Merivoimat)
⚡ Shipyard Prime: Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC — Rauma, Finland)
⚡ Combat System Integrator: Saab AB (Sweden) — Integrated Combat System / C4ISR Suite
⚡ Program Lifecycle Milestone: Vessel 1 (Outfitting), Vessel 2 (Outfitting), Vessel 3 (Launched Oct 29, 2026), Vessel 4 (Keel-Laid Aug 2026)
⚡ Fleet Replacement Mandate: Directly replaces Hämeenmaa-class minelayers (2×) and Rauma-class missile boats (4×), plus the retired minelayer *Pohjanmaa* 
Ship Design, Dimensions & Environmental Engineering
💥 Ship Dimensions & Displacement: Overall Length: 117 meters (384 ft) | Beam: 16 meters (52 ft) | Draft: 5 meters | Displacement: ~4,300 tonnes
💥 Ice Class Certification: Built to Finnish-Swedish Ice Class 1A standards, featuring heavily reinforced ice-strengthened steel hull frames for year-round sub-zero Baltic Sea operation
💥 Propulsion & Speed: Combined Diesel-electric and Gas (CODLAG) turbine propulsion architecture delivering speeds >26 knots with high fuel-efficiency and low underwater radiated noise (URN)
💥 Aviation Infrastructure: Permanent enclosed helicopter hangar and stern flight deck capable of operating NH90, MH-60R, or organic vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) uncrewed aerial systems
Sensors, C4ISR & Combat Systems Suite
🚀 Combat Management System: Saab 9LV Combat Management System (CMS) with fully integrated open-architecture tactical data links (Link 16 / Link 22)
🚀 Radar & EO Sensors: Saab Sea Giraffe 4A Fixed Face (FF) Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) GaN 3D radar paired with Sea Giraffe 1X short-range radar and Ceros 200 radar/electro-optical fire control directors
🚀 Anti-Air Warfare (AAW): 32-cell Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) firing Raytheon RIM-162 Evolved ESSM Block 2 surface-to-air missiles
🚀 Anti-Surface & Anti-Submarine Warfare: Gabriel V (SSM2020) anti-ship cruise missiles, Torpedosystem 47 (TS47) lightweight anti-submarine torpedoes, 57mm Bofors Mk3 main gun, integrated naval mine-laying rails, and active/passive towed array sonars (PATAS / GeoAcoustics)
TIMES OF DEFENCE ASSESSMENT
The launch of the third Pohjanmaa-class corvette at Rauma Shipyard demonstrates steady industrial progress for Finland’s flagship naval modernization effort. The Baltic Sea represents one of the world’s most complex, littoral, and environmentally demanding maritime operating environments, characterized by shallow coastal archipelago channels, dense maritime traffic, intense electronic warfare threats, and thick sea ice during winter months.
From an engineering and naval warfare perspective, the Pohjanmaa-class design offers several key tactical advantages:
1. **Year-Round All-Weather Capability in Ice**: Unlike conventional Western frigates or corvettes that cannot operate in frozen seas, the Pohjanmaa class is engineered with a Class 1A ice-strengthened bow and specialized propulsion shafts. This ensures the Finnish Navy maintains surface strike, mine-laying, and anti-submarine capabilities even when Baltic ports and sea lanes freeze over.
2. **True Multi-Mission Warfare Package in a Compact Hull**: At 4,300 tonnes, the class bridges the gap between corvettes and heavy frigates. By integrating ESSM Block 2 SAMs, Gabriel V anti-ship missiles, TS47 torpedoes, and heavy naval mining rails onto a single hull, Finland provides NATO’s northern flank with a versatile surface combatant capable of layered AAW, ASW, and sea-denial missions.
3. **Seamless Allied Integration via Swedish-Finnish Cooperation**: Equipping the vessels with Saab’s 9LV CMS, Sea Giraffe 4A AESA radars, and TS47 torpedoes aligns the Pohjanmaa class directly with the Swedish Navy’s surface architecture. This shared operational baseline allows real-time tactical sensor fusion across the Gulf of Finland and Bothnia, strengthening NATO’s maritime posture in the Baltic region.
