Construction starts on Finnish Navy’s second Squadron 2020 multi-role corvette
Naval Today
By Fatima Bahtić
10 October 2024
The steel-cutting ceremony for Finnish Navy’s second Squadron 2020 multi-role corvette was held at Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) shipyard on October 9, 2024.
Credit: Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC)
The ceremony celebrated the start of the construction phase of the multipurpose corvette. Rauma Marine Constructions and its subsidiary RMC Defence are building four Squadron 2020 multi-role (Pohjanmaa-class corvettes).
The high-performance vessels are designed to operate in the Baltic Sea year-round in various circumstances ranging from autumn storms to icy and freezing conditions.
The keel-laying ceremony for the first vessel in this class was held in April this year. The construction of the multipurpose corvettes has progressed well, according to RMC, and it is already taking shape.
According to RMC, Pohjanmaa-class corvettes are equipped with monitoring capacities for air, surface and underwater surveillance. The 117-meter-long vessels are designed to operate in the Baltic Sea year-round in various circumstances, including also icy and freezing conditions.
They have a width of 16 meters, a draft of 5 meters, and are capable of traveling at 26 knots.
They are also capable of laying navy mines, performing defense actions against surface vessels, submarines and various airborne targets and conducting maritime operations. In addition to domestic operations, the vessels can be used in crisis management measures and as part of NATO’s Standing Naval Forces.
The entire project is scheduled for completion to be completed in 2029.