Rauma shipyard launches first Pohjanmaa corvette for Finland

The first Pohjanmaa-class corvette is lowered into the water using a submersible barge. (Rauma Marine Constructions)

The Finnish Navy's Squadron 2020 project has achieved another milestone with the launch of the first Pohjanmaa-class corvette.

A formal launch ceremony for the lead vessel in the four-ship programme was held at Rauma Marine Constructions' (RMC's) shipyard on 21 May, RMC confirmed the same day.

The ceremony follows the ship's technical launch at the beginning of May, during which it was moved from the construction hall to a launching barge via a heavy transport ramp and then lowered into the harbour. Following its launch, the ship was towed to the shipyard's dry dock for further work, including installation of its mast.

RMC is delivering four Pohjanmaa-class multirole corvettes for the Finnish Navy under a EUR647.6 million (USD687.8 million) design and construction contract awarded in 2019.

Under current planning, first-of-class sea trials will take place in 2026 and the ship will be delivered and commissioned into service in 2027. All four ships are planned to be delivered and operational by about 2029.

RMC said the Squadron 2020 project is now progressing on schedule and the pace of construction will accelerate as work on the subsequent ships progresses.

The second ship started construction in October 2024 and was laid down on 8 May 2025, and the third unit is planned to start construction later this year.

Designed to carry out a wide range of missions, including anti-surface, anti-submarine, and anti-air warfare as well as minelaying, the Pohjanmaa-class corvettes will replace the navy's existing Hämeenmaa‐class minelayers and Rauma‐class fast attack craft , which are due to leave service by the mid‐2020s, as well as the already retired FNS Pohjanmaa minelayer.