Finland sees opportunity in US defence market

A graphic rendering of part of ICEYE's constellation of SAR imaging satellites. (ICEYE)

Business Finland, Finland's official trade and investment agency, attended the Navy League Sea-Air-Space 2025 annual conference and exposition in National Harbor, Maryland, from 7 to 9 April, for the first time with a delegation of 13 companies, Ulla Lainio, commercial counsellor for Business Finland, told Janes on 8 April. “This is due to Finland's NATO accession and as we are a relatively new NATO member, we decided to come here and show that we are dedicated and committed as a partner to the United States,” she said.

NATO membership has brought Finnish and US firms closer, Lainio said, because as a “verified ally it's possible to share information differently”. Finland's order for 64 F-35s provides another avenue for “strong commitment and collaboration”, she added.

US presence

Finnish industry is well established in the US, with US workforces and manufacturing, Lainio said, noting that this is important to align with the ‘Buy American' legislation. Companies active in the market are familiar with the rules and do not see major issues going forward, she added. “The market is very big, your defence spending is enormous … the demand is very strong. It is just that you have to be present in the market; you need to be close to the end-user,” Lainio said.

Finnish products being built in the US include vehicles and semi-automated and automated logistics systems, she said. Some companies, such as Marioff, which build water mist fire-protection systems, are American-owned, she added.

Finnish offerings