Week 44, 2025 was marked by extensive policy and structural changes in Nordic defence, with decisions on new intelligence services, artificial intelligence initiatives, reorganisations, and industrial restructuring. Below is the week's compiled defence news.

Domains

Air

  • Denmark's state investment guarantee for Ukraine: The Danish Export and Investment Fund (EIFO) has for the first time granted a state investment guarantee for a Danish company's investment in the Ukrainian defence industry. The guarantee covers 70 per cent of an investment of 12 million Danish kroner and aims to scale up production of equipment for electronic drone defence. Read more

Cyber

  • Finland invests in AI centre: The Finnish Defence Forces (Puolustusvoimat) are developing their artificial intelligence capabilities in cooperation with NestAI and are preparing a new AI centre set to begin operations in 2026, as part of a new data and AI strategy for knowledge-based leadership. Read more
  • Sweden assigns FRA measurement mandate: The Swedish government has tasked the National Defence Radio Establishment (FRA), through the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), with developing a model for measuring the progress of Sweden's cybersecurity capability. The first report is planned for March 2026. Read more

Space

  • EU and Ukraine negotiate on Govsatcom: The European Commission plans to open negotiations with Ukraine on the country's participation in Govsatcom, the EU's programme for secure satellite communications, as part of deepened cooperation on critical infrastructure. Read more

Land

  • Finland switches to NATO calibres: The Finnish Defence Forces (Puolustusvoimat) have decided that new small arms will use NATO-standardised calibres: 5.56x45 mm, 7.62x51 mm, 9x19 mm, and 12.7x99 mm, in order to improve capability and interoperability with NATO member states. Current calibres will no longer be procured. Read more
  • The King inspected the Life Guards' Life Battalion: On 27 October, H.M. The King conducted an inspection of the Life Guards' Life Battalion at the inner courtyard of the Royal Palace in Stockholm (Sweden's capital), with approximately 450 participants. Read more

Policy & Strategy

  • Sweden establishes civilian intelligence service: A new civilian foreign intelligence service is to be operational no later than 1 January 2027. Annika Brändström has been appointed as special investigator, based on the intelligence review conducted by Carl Bildt. Read more
  • Denmark reorganises its defence: General Michael Wiggers Hyldgaard, Chief of Defence Denmark, has presented a new organisational structure that includes a new Finance and Operations Staff and an Operational Support Command, aimed at increasing agility and accelerating decision-making processes. Read more
  • FFI: Multi-domain operations provide military advantage: A new report from the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI, Forsvarets forskningsinstitutt) identifies multi-domain operations (MDO) as decisive for future military advantage through seamless integration across land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains. Read more
  • Norway introduces new personnel conditions: The Norwegian Armed Forces are introducing measures including expanded remote working, financial incentives in Northern Norway (Nordnorge), and student loan deductions to improve working conditions and retain personnel, as part of the ongoing pay and incentives project. Read more
  • Finland blocks property purchases: Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen has denied eleven property acquisitions by buyers from countries outside the EU and the European Economic Area (EEA), including Russia, Israel, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, citing hybrid influence and national security concerns. Read more
  • Finland investigates nature restoration for defence purposes: A joint working group from Finland's Ministry of the Environment and Ministry of Defence is to investigate how nature restoration, such as the rewetting of peatlands, can be coordinated with defence interests and create natural obstacles in eastern Finland. Read more
  • New facilities inaugurated at Terningmoen: Two newly constructed buildings, the office building Midtskogen and the residential building Leiret, have been brought into use at Terningmoen Barracks outside Elverum (eastern Norway) as part of the Norwegian long-term defence plan Forsvarsløftet. Further construction is planned for 2026. Read more
  • Slagelse named Veteran Municipality of the Year in Denmark: Slagelse (southern Denmark) has been named Veteran Municipality of the Year 2025 by Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen for its long-term work supporting veterans and their families, including through the Veteranhjem Sjælland (Veterans' Home Zealand) initiative. Read more

Industry

  • Kongsberg Maritime to be listed on stock exchange: Kongsberg Gruppen proposes that Kongsberg Maritime be spun off and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange during the second quarter of 2026, while Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace and Kongsberg Discovery are merged into a new technology and defence-focused company. The Norwegian state supports the proposal. Read more

Overall, week 44 demonstrates broad Nordic reform efforts in defence and security, ranging from strategic reorganisations and new intelligence capabilities to industrial restructuring and technological investments in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.