Finland Army

The Finnish Army, or Maavoimat, constitutes the land branch of the Finnish Defence Forces. Command of the army is exercised through the Army Command located in Mikkeli. Brigade-level formations comprise the Armored Brigade at Parola, Karelia Brigade at Vekaranjärvi, Pori Brigade at Säkylä and Niinisalo, Kainuu Brigade at Kajaani, Jaeger Brigade at Sodankylä and Rovaniemi, Guard Jaeger Regiment at Santahamina, and Utti Jaeger Regiment at Utti, supplemented by the Army Academy in Lappeenranta and Hamina. Local defense units and regional forces support the main field army. Mikkeli also hosts NATO Multi-Corps Land Component Command elements, while Rovaniemi serves as a command node for NATO Forward Land Forces in Finland.

The army comprises armored, mechanized infantry, motorized infantry, artillery, air defense, engineering, signals, and aviation arms. Armored units operate Leopard 2A4 and Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks. Mechanized infantry formations are equipped with CV9030 FIN infantry fighting vehicles and modernized BMP-2MD tracked vehicles. Wheeled transport relies on Patria AMV platforms, Patria 6x6 armored personnel carriers, and PASI XA-series vehicles. Field artillery units deploy K9 Moukari 155mm self-propelled howitzers, 155 K 98 towed howitzers, and M270 multiple launch rocket systems. Ground-based air defense relies on David's Sling high-altitude interception systems, NASAMS II, ITO 90M Crotale NG, ASRAD-R, and FIM-92 Stinger surface-to-air missile systems. Army aviation is centered at Utti and operates NH90 tactical transport helicopters and Hughes MD500 light utility helicopters.

Primary operational responsibilities involve defending national territory, maintaining deterrence, and fulfilling NATO collective defense obligations. Operational deployments include international crisis management missions, with personnel stationed in the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon and the NATO-led Kosovo Force, alongside military training operations in Iraq. Modernization initiatives focus on land mobility, artillery, and air defense. Capability development includes procurement of domestic Patria 6x6 vehicles under the Common Armoured Vehicle System program, integration of David's Sling missile systems for high-altitude air defense, and acquisition of additional K9 Moukari self-propelled howitzers. In 2026, following formal withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention, the army began reintroducing anti-personnel landmines and counter-mobility training into its land defense planning.