Rauma Marine Constructions will build the corvettes, which will perform a variety of maritime missions. Credit: Finnish Defence Forces

Construction of the first of Finland’s Pohjanmaa-class multirole corvettes will finally get underway by the end of 2023, according to an official release from the Finnish Navy.

The corvette development is part of the €1.23bn ($1.36bn) Squadron 2020 project, which will replace seven ageing vessels of the Finnish Navy. The Rauma Marine Constructions shipyard will construct the Pohjanmaa-class multi-role corvettes in Rauma, Finland.

Finland’s Defence Forces Logistics Command signed the shipbuilding contract with Rauma Marine Constructions for four Pohjanmaa-class corvettes in September 2019.

According to Finland’s MoD, construction will continue until 2029 for the delivery of the programme, as a result of which has issued a call for technical experts to join the build, citing “delays in the initial build phase” of the project. The first-in-class vessel is planned to be operational by 2027.

Training for personnel expected to crew the vessels is also underway “in Finland and abroad”.

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The multirole corvettes will be capable of undertaking a range of missions such as anti-surface, anti-air and anti-submarine warfare, maritime surveillance, as well as mine-laying missions.

Situated on the Baltic Sea, the development of the Pohjanmaa corvettes will add a crucial capability to Finland’s naval forces, following the country’s recent accession to Nato.

In terms of kinetic systems, the Pohjanmaa corvettes will be equipped with a Bofors 57mm naval gun, a type commonly used by Nato naval, in addition to two Trackfire remote weapon stations with small, medium and heavy machine guns, automatic grenade launchers and lightweight medium-calibre cannons.

The ITO20 surface-to-air missile system on the corvette will integrate Mk 41 vertical launchers for firing 32 Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles, and will also be armed with eight Gabriel 5 surface-to-surface or anti-ship missiles.

Saab lightweight torpedoes (SLWTs) and naval mines will be installed onboard the ships for anti-submarine warfare. The SLWT can engage enemy submarines at a maximum depth of 300m.