Finland’s new 4,300-tonne corvettes are designed to dominate the freezing, shallow Baltic Sea
In short: The Finnish Navy is building four massive multi-role corvettes to anchor its future fleet. While officially classified as corvettes, their size has sparked debate about whether they are actually frigates. Designed for year-round ice operations, these vessels represent a significant leap in scale for Finland’s traditionally small-ship coastal navy.
The Pohjanmaa-class programme, known as Squadron 2020, marks a departure from the Finnish Navy’s reliance on fast attack craft. With a displacement of about 4,300 tonnes and a length of 117 metres, these are the largest Finnish surface combatants since the 1930s. The vessels feature an ice-strengthened hull capable of operating in the seasonally freezing Baltic Sea, a requirement that contributes to their substantial size. Propulsion is handled by a CODLAG system, allowing for quiet, diesel-electric operation during anti-submarine missions and high-speed bursts exceeding 26 knots using a gas turbine.
The classification of these ships remains a point of contention. Critics argue that their size makes them vulnerable targets in shallow coastal waters and suggests a shift toward international blue-water operations rather than national defence. However, the Finnish Navy maintains that the increased displacement is necessary to consolidate multiple roles, including a heavy emphasis on minelaying, into a single platform. The design is specifically tailored to Finnish operational needs, rejecting comparisons to foreign littoral combat ships.
Equipped with a sophisticated sensor suite—including fixed-face AESA radar and dual-towed sonar—the corvettes are heavily armed. Their arsenal includes Gabriel 5 anti-ship missiles, RIM-162 ESSM air defence missiles, and Torped 47 lightweight torpedoes. The programme, which began research in 2008, faced delays during the design phase but is now moving toward completion. The lead ship, launched in May 2025, is expected to enter service in 2027, with the full quartet projected to be operational by 2029.
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