Finnish defence company Patria and the Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) have renewed their strategic partnership agreement, Patria announced on 10 November 2025.
The agreement ensures that military aviation equipment, naval defence systems and command systems used by the FDF remain operational throughout their lifecycle in all security situations.
The new strategic partnership agreement was signed by Major General Tero Ylitalo, chief of the FDF’s Logistics Command, and Patria President and CEO Esa Rautalinko.
“To ensure continuity of operations in a changing environment is an important part of strategic partnership,” stated Gen Ylitalo. “The partnership agreement that has now been signed supports this objective.”
Rautalinko added, “Patria is committed to maintaining the operational readiness of the military equipment of the Finnish Defence Forces in the long term, both in times of peace and crisis. The agreement includes also, as a new component, a technology partnership, which enables the development of new capabilities in close co-operation with the Defence Forces.”
Close co-operation between Patria and the FDF began over a hundred years ago, although the term ‘strategic partnership’ was introduced in the 2000s.
The partnership includes extensive information exchange, preparedness, and close co-operation in developing services, operating models, technologies and new capabilities during peacetime for the various stages of increased FDF readiness.
The strategic partnership also includes a wartime economy agreement, which guarantees the availability of personnel, facilities and production capacity even under exceptional circumstances.
