The key objective of materiel policy is to build the capabilities required by national defence and to ensure military security of supply. Finland must be able to operate critical defence systems in all security situations, and to ensure this, both technological know-how and materiel readiness are required. The Defence Forces’ national partners and international cooperation arrangements are an essential part of military security of supply as a whole.

The development programmes create the basis for capability acquisition. It is essential to identify critical capability areas where the requirements of military security of supply are particularly high. The objective of procurement is to acquire capabilities that best suit Finland’s defence system, in an appropriate and cost-effective way, and with due consideration for the essential security interests of the state.

A viable and internationally competitive domestic defence industry, its international networking and exports maintain military security of supply and promote the operational capability of national defence. In materiel policy, the Finnish defence industry plays an important role both in maintaining key weapons systems and other systems and in developing new capabilities.

Research and development (R&D) create and maintain competences that support the planning, building and use of capabilities. R&D must be goal-oriented, resourced adequately and with national and international networks.

The capabilities of Finland’s defence system, as well as the security of supply of materiel and expertise, are developed through international materiel cooperation. Materiel cooperation is part of wider defence cooperation and its goals. Participation in materiel cooperation is guided by the development needs of the Defence Forces’ military capabilities and the need to maintain sufficient defence industrial and technological expertise required by national defence. The promotion of industrial networking and exports is part of international materiel cooperation.

The Ministry of Defence, the Defence Forces and other actors, such as the domestic industrial, scientific and research community, are jointly responsible for implementing this Strategy. A separate document will be drawn up to specify the measures to be taken to achieve the objectives set out in the Strategy.