The keel laying of the fourth and final corvette in the Pohjanmaa class has taken place at the Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) shipyard. The ceremony marks an important milestone in Finland's Squadron 2020 programme and means that hull assembly now moves into its next phase.
In a press release from the Finnish Defence Forces (Puolustusvoimat), it is stated that the keel laying took place on 4 August. During the ceremony, the ship's keel section was placed on the building supports and traditional lucky coins were placed beneath the keel. Steel production for the fourth corvette began in January 2026.
According to RMC, the keel laying means that hull assembly can now continue at full pace. The shipyard states that experience gained from the earlier vessels in the series has improved the efficiency of both steel production and assembly.
NDS reported in May that the second corvette had been launched in Rauma (southwestern Finland), meaning that all four vessels in the Squadron 2020 programme were then under construction. According to the Finnish Defence Forces, the corvettes are planned to enter service successively between 2027 and 2029.
"The vessels currently under construction, together with the coastal units' systems and future unmanned systems, will form a significant naval capability for our entire defence system," says the Navy's Chief of Staff, Commodore Janne Huusko, in the Finnish Defence Forces' press release.
RMC's CEO Mika Nieminen states that series production is now delivering clear results.
"The industrial working methods developed during the construction programme are now particularly evident through more efficient steel production and hull assembly. Series production allows us to benefit from the experience gained on the earlier vessels and to move production forward methodically and with high quality," he says in RMC's press release.
The corvettes are designed to operate year round in the Baltic Sea's varying conditions. According to the Finnish Defence Forces, they will be capable of, among other things, laying sea mines, conducting anti-submarine warfare, protecting sea lines of communication and maintaining a long-term military presence at sea.
"From the Navy's perspective, these vessels enable a naval presence and capabilities that safeguard our freedom of action under all conditions. Nevertheless, the vessels' operational capability will only be realised through access to skilled personnel, and we also see a need for a new type of expertise and professional skill," says Huusko in the press release.
The four ice-going corvettes are to replace seven older vessels in the Finnish Navy. According to RMC, the Squadron 2020 programme is expected to create around 3,600 person-years of employment in Finland. The shipyard also states that the parallel American icebreaker programme, contracted in 2025, further strengthens employment at the shipyard and among its subcontractors.