Integris has won a contract to supply ballistic protection systems for the Finnish Navy’s four new Pohjanmaa-class corvettes.
As per a press statement the firm, which specialises in advanced composite armour solutions, is providing a range of protective measures for the Squadron 2020 warships, which are being built at Finland’s Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) shipyard.
It noted: “Maritime environments present some of the most demanding and specialised protection requirements, including ballistic multi-threat performance, blast mitigation, corrosion resistance, and long-term durability under extreme operating conditions.”
It added: “This partnership began at the earliest stages of ship design, allowing Integris engineers to work closely with the shipbuilder’s project team to ensure optimal integration of survivability solutions while maintaining strict weight and performance targets.”
Composites are much lighter than conventional steel plating, offering advantages in terms of enhanced warship manoeuvrability and speed, and reduced maintenance costs.
RMC Programme Director Jari Nieminen commented: “We have been working together with Integris and our design team to fully integrate the protection into the ship design that met our survivability requirements without compromising speed, range, or payload.”
And Integris’ Chief Commercial Officer Jan Grimberg added: “Being selected by Rauma Marine Constructions as a partner reflects our team’s experience and expertise in designing and delivering lightweight, high-performance naval armour systems.”
The second Pohjanmaa-class multi-purpose corvette was launched at the start of the month almost exactly a year after the first-in-class boat’s hull hit the water for the first time.
The third and fourth boats, all as yet unnamed, are also under construction at the same shipyard; the lead boat is undergoing final outfitting and is expected to be commissioned into active service during 2027.
RMC won the contract to construct the ice-capable ships in 2019 in a programme valued in the region of €1.3 billion. They will be 117m long and displace 4,300 tonnes.
- You can read more details on the Integris website and the Finnish Navy website