The Expansion of the Finnish Defence Forces’ Vehicle Fleet

The Finnish Ministry of Defence has recently announced the procurement of 13 Sisu GTP 4×4 off-road vehicles from Oy Sisu Auto Ab, with the total value of the deal amounting to approximately €9.7m ($10.6m). This procurement is part of a collaborative effort with Sweden and is aimed at enhancing the countries’ vehicle systems. In addition to this, it also follows previous procurements of 31 Sisu GTP 4×4 vehicles in 2020 and 2022.

Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen highlighted the significance of procuring domestic vehicles, emphasizing the positive impact on the Army’s mobility and military security of supply. Furthermore, he also noted the substantial regional employment effect in Western Uusimaa resulting from this procurement.

While the recent deal may seem relatively minor, it is part of an ongoing effort to bolster defence equipment in Finland. This is notable, especially given the fluctuations in the country’s defence budget, which resulted in a decrease in overall spending from 2021–22. According to GlobalData analysis, however, there is a forecasted increase in defence spending for the 2024–28 period, with a projected total of $37bn, signifying a compound annual growth rate of 7% during this period.

The growth in defence spending is largely attributed to the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, prompting European countries, particularly those sharing a border with Russia, to intensify their defence modernization efforts.

Recent developments also include Finland’s application to join Nato in May 2022, and its formal integration into the multinational defence alliance in April 2023. This integration has led to the Finnish forces being incorporated into the overall command and control structure of Nato.

Additionally, notable ongoing procurement programmes for Finland span across various domains, including the acquisition of F-35A stealth fighters, the Pohjanmaa-class corvettes, and participation in the multinational Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS) project.

In conclusion, the procurement of the Sisu GTP 4×4 vehicles by the Finnish Defence Forces marks another step towards enhancing the country’s defence capabilities. The ongoing efforts to modernise and improve the military’s mobility and security of supply are indicative of Finland’s commitment to strengthening its national defence.