The keel for the Finnish Navy's fourth Pohjanmaa-class multi-role corvette was laid at the Rauma shipyard on August 4, 2026.
The keel-laying ceremony is a traditional milestone of symbolic importance in the construction of a vessel, which marks the concrete start of the assembly of the blocks of a warship.
During the ceremony held in the Rauma shipyard multi-purpose hall, the vessel’s keel block was placed on building blocks, and traditional lucky coins were positioned beneath it. Steel cutting for the fourth multi-role corvette started in January 2026.
"Together with the coastal forces and unmanned systems of the future, the vessels under construction will constitute a significant maritime capability for our entire defence system," Chief of Staff of the Navy Command, Commodore Janne Huusko, commented.
RMC and its subsidiary RMC Defence Oy are building a total of four multi-role corvettes for the Navy.
The first two vessels included in the Squadron 2020 project have been launched and are undergoing outfitting work. The assembly of the third multi-role corvette in underway with the keel having been laid in January 2026.
The Pohjanmaa-class vessels are designed for year-round operation in the range of circumstances of the Baltic Sea. Among other things, they will be capable of laying sea mines, conducting anti-submarine operations, securing sea lines of communication, and achieving sustained presence at sea.
"From the Navy’s perspective, these vessels will represent the naval presence and skills that will secure our liberty of action in any circumstances. However, the vessels’ capability will be complete only through the competence of their crews; we also recognize a need for a new kind of know-how and professional competence," Huusko added.
Being modern, ice-capable ships, these four multi-role corvettes will replace seven ageing navy vessels. The project is expected to strengthen the capabilities of Finland’s maritime defence in a changed security environment.