RMC begins building the fourth and final Pohjanmaa-class multipurpose corvette for the Finnish Navy under Squadron 2020

Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) has reached another milestone in the Squadron 2020 programme by starting work on the fourth and final Pohjanmaa-class multipurpose corvette for the Finnish Navy. The step was marked by a steel-cutting ceremony held alongside the keel-laying of the third ship, meaning all four programme corvettes are now at different build stages at RMC’s Rauma yard.

RMC reported that production of the third corvette began in August 2025, while the second hull is close to completing its structural work. Meanwhile, the first corvette-launched in May 2025-has moved into the outfitting and equipment-installation phase.

In this context, RMC’s Chief Executive Officer and President, Mika Nieminen, said: “We are very pleased to now have all Pohjanmaa-class multipurpose corvettes under construction at the Rauma shipyard. We have industrialised our procedures and construction processes to meet the demanding requirements of our customers’ projects. This is reflected in the progress achieved in the basic shipbuilding activities, i.e. hull construction”.

A key programme for the Finnish Navy

The Squadron 2020 (Laivue 2020) programme covers the construction of four Pohjanmaa-class corvettes to renew the Finnish Navy’s surface fleet. The ships are designed for year-round operations in Baltic Sea conditions, and they will replace older vessels from the Rauma and Hämeenmaa classes, as well as a minelayer that has been withdrawn from service.

The Pohjanmaa-class corvettes are intended as multipurpose platforms, able to conduct air defence missions, anti-submarine warfare, naval mine deployment and joint operations with allied NATO forces. Each ship is approximately 117 metres long with a beam of 16.5 metres, a crew of around 70 personnel, and an estimated top speed of 26 knots.

Construction of the second corvette began in October 2024, while the third ship of the class started building in September last year. In addition, it is worth recalling that the first corvette-the class lead-was launched in May 2025, underscoring the rapid pace of progress within Squadron 2020.

Industrial and economic impact

According to figures provided by RMC, the direct employment impact of the Squadron 2020 programme is estimated at around 3,600 person-years in Finland. This comes alongside other strategic work being run in parallel, including the construction of two icebreakers for the United States Coast Guard, a contract awarded at the end of 2025.

On the matter, Brigadier General (Engineer) Juha-Matti Ylitalo, Deputy Chief of the Finnish Defence Forces’ Logistics Command, stated: “The start of steel cutting for the fourth unit and the keel laying of the third are clear indications of the project’s progress and of the capability of our shipbuilding industry, further strengthened by the icebreaker projects that are about to begin”.

The icebreakers, scheduled for delivery in 2028, are expected to generate an estimated direct impact of 2,000 person-years, with a total impact that could reach 5,000 person-years, overlapping in time with the corvette builds.

Rauma shipyard’s outlook

From within the Finnish Government, Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen highlighted the programme’s strategic importance: “Squadron 2020 is a strategic project for Finland, and the icebreaker project opens a completely new dimension for our shipbuilding industry. RMC has become a leading supplier of government and military vessels in Finland”.

Consistent with this growth, RMC said it will increase its workforce from 300 to around 400 employees, reinforcing its technical and organisational structure. Nieminen noted that this approach will help secure industrial capabilities and take on responsibilities in both the domestic market and international projects.

With construction of the fourth Pohjanmaa-class corvette now under way, Squadron 2020 is entering its final production phase, standing out as one of Finland’s most significant naval modernisation efforts of the past decade.

Images for illustrative purposes.