Finland's Navy is procuring up to four new military training vessels for the Naval Academy in Suomenlinna, Helsinki, with the first vessel due in service by the end of 2029. The Finnish Defence Forces' Logistics Department is managing the acquisition of the new ships designed for the Baltic Sea, which will replace the aging training vessel Kajava.
Merivoimien viestintäpäällikkö Annele Apajakari confirmed the procurement includes one confirmed vessel and an option for three additional ships. "The procurement is in the request for participation phase, so no price information or details on the size class of the offered vessels are yet available," Apajakari said. The new vessels are intended for training cadets, non-commissioned officer students, and reserve officer candidates at the Merisotakoulu (Naval Academy).
Phasing Out a Cold War-Era Workhorse
The vessel being phased out, the Kajava, is a 26-meter Lokki-class patrol boat originally built for the Border Guard in 1986. It carries a crew of ten and was transferred to the Navy for training purposes in 1999 along with its sister ship, Lokki, which was itself decommissioned in the early 2000s. The Kajava's retirement marks the end of an era for a hull design that has served Finnish maritime forces for nearly four decades.
This replacement cycle continues a modernization program for the Naval Academy's training fleet. In the early 2000s, the academy received three Fabian Wrede-class vessels, the last of which entered service in 2008. Those recently refurbished ships are 19.6 meters long and also accommodate ten crew members. The introduction of the new, purpose-built training vessels will create a more uniform and modern fleet dedicated solely to educating the Navy's future personnel.
A Core Mission: Training the Next Generation
The primary mission of these vessels is foundational training. Every Finnish Navy officer and key enlisted sailor spends time on these academy ships, learning navigation, shipboard procedures, seamanship, and maritime engineering in the demanding conditions of the Gulf of Finland and the broader Baltic. The transition from the Lokki-class to a new design reflects updated technological standards and operational requirements that cadets must master before serving on the Navy's frontline combat vessels.
The training is hands-on and immersive, with voyages often lasting several days. The compact size of the vessels, similar to the outgoing Kajava, ensures students are exposed to all aspects of ship operations. This practical experience is considered irreplaceable, forming the core competency of the Navy's human capital.
Part of a Broader Naval Modernization Wave
This training fleet update occurs against the backdrop of the largest naval construction program in modern Finnish history: the building of four Pohjanmaa-class multi-role corvettes at the Rauma shipyard. The keel for the third corvette was laid just last week, with construction on the first vessel having begun in October 2023. The 117-meter corvettes, costing approximately 1.45 billion euros, are scheduled to enter service between 2027 and 2029.
The parallel timelines are not coincidental. The new training vessels will be entering service as the Pohjanmaa-class corvettes are being commissioned. This ensures that the personnel graduating from the Naval Academy will be trained on modern, relevant platforms, creating a pipeline of sailors prepared to operate and maintain the Navy's new flagship vessels. The investment in both frontline combat power and the training infrastructure behind it signals a long-term commitment to maritime defense capability.
The Road to 2029
The path to the new vessels becoming operational is now in its initial contractual phase. Over the coming years, a supplier will be selected, designs finalized, and construction begun. The requirement for the vessels to be suitable for military navigation training in the Baltic Sea is paramount, suggesting a design that is robust, versatile, and capable in various sea states.
For the crew of the Kajava and the instructors at the Naval Academy, the announcement charts a clear course for the next decade. It promises a transition from maintaining an aging platform to integrating new tools specifically designed for their educational mission. For future cadets who will walk the decks of these yet-unnamed ships, it represents a commitment to providing them with the best possible start to their naval careers. As Finland's new corvettes take to the sea, the vessels that train their crews will be waiting, ready to prepare the next generation for service.