►Patria and the Finnish Defence Forces strengthen strategic partnership
November 10, 2025 – Patria and the Finnish Defence Forces have renewed their strategic partnership agreement. This agreement ensures that the military aviation equipment, naval defence systems and command systems used by the Finnish Defence Forces remain operational throughout their lifecycle in all security situations.
Strategic partnership is the deepest form of cooperation between the Finnish Defence Forces and a service provider, through which the Defence Forces secure critical services and capabilities in the long term. A strategic partnership means a close and long-lasting collaborative relationship based on agreements, focusing on shared long-term development goals, preparedness for various phases of readiness during peacetime, and operations under exceptional circumstances.
The new strategic partnership agreement was signed by Major General Tero Ylitalo, Chief of Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command, and Esa Rautalinko, President and CEO of Patria.
“To ensure continuity of operations in a changing environment is an important part of strategic partnership. The partnership agreement that has now been signed supports this objective,” says Ylitalo.
Rautalinko comments: “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 cooperation with the Defence Forces.”
The close cooperation between Patria and the Finnish Defence Forces began over a hundred years ago. In the 2000s, the term strategic partnership was introduced. The services produced by a strategic partner enable the Defence Forces to fulfil their core missions.
Partnership includes extensive information exchange, preparedness, and close cooperation in developing services, operating models, technologies and new capabilities during peacetime for the various stages of increased readiness. With a strategic partner, a wartime economy agreement is also always made, guaranteeing the availability of personnel, facilities and production capacity even under exceptional circumstances.
