In this blog post, I examine the significance of the domestic defense industry in securing Finland’s security of supply, particularly military security of supply.
Security of supply is part of the Finnish concept for comprehensive security
In the Finnish concept for comprehensive security, the society’s vital functions are illustrated in a diamond-shaped model, where each corner of the diamond represents one essential societal function. One of these corners includes the economy, infrastructure, and security of supply.
Security of supply refers to preparedness for disruptions and crises. It also encompasses continuity management to ensure that essential production, services, and infrastructure for national defense, the livelihood of the population, and the economy can be maintained during serious disturbances and states of emergency.
Finland’s security of supply system is built on strong collaboration
Finland has a long tradition of safeguarding security of supply. The roots of this work trace back over a hundred years to the supply crisis caused by World War I.
A key strength of Finland’s security of supply system is the effective cooperation between the public and private sectors. Central actors in this system include the National Emergency Supply Agency and the broader security of supply organization.
The organization is structured into sector-specific groups, each containing dedicated pools. These sectors and pools form a structure that covers the value and supply chains essential for security of supply, including the key players operating within them.
The cornerstone of security of supply efforts is the collaboration among authorities, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and individuals on preparedness issues.
Military security of supply addresses challenges in the operational environment
Military security of supply ensures the operational capability of essential resources and critical systems for the Finnish Defence Forces during societal disruptions. The environment and the chosen defense strategy play a crucial role in shaping Finland’s military security of supply.
Our geographical location in the north, on the periphery of the European Union and deep within the Baltic Sea region, means that receiving and providing support during crises is more difficult. This makes Finland more vulnerable from a security of supply perspective compared to, for example, countries in Central Europe.
Security of supply requires up-to-date expertise as technologies evolve
The war in Ukraine has shown how technologies used on the battlefield evolve rapidly. Technologies like drones have been heavily featured in discussions and news, highlighting their swift development and increasing usage in warfare.
For the Finnish Defence Forces to maintain operational capability, critical materials, production capacity, technologies, and expertise must be available under all security conditions. The rapid evolution of battlefield technology challenges the traditional preparedness model—stockpiling rapidly evolving technology is inefficient due to its short shelf life. Instead, quick-response mechanisms for ensuring production capability are necessary.
Access to new technologies and their cost-effective development and integration into defense systems require strong domestic expertise and production capacity. Ensuring these prerequisites is where the domestic defense industry plays a central and vital role in Finland’s national defense approach.
Security of supply ensures the production of critical materials
From a military security of supply perspective, it is particularly important to ensure domestic production of critical consumables used in national defense. This is essential for enabling Finland to endure prolonged, high-intensity wars of attrition.
The domestic defense industry – especially companies partnered with the Finnish Defence Forces and their subcontracting networks – plays a significant and established role in safeguarding military security of supply
The Defence Forces have established war economy, production reserve, and framework agreements with partner companies, including readiness plans for emergency operations. These plans define how, and with what resources, the required production will be executed during a state of emergency.
To make the system functional, the measures designed to safeguard military security of supply must be agreed upon during normal conditions. For example, the Ministry of Defence and the National Emergency Supply Agency maintain production capacity for gunpowder and ammunition, as well as essential national defense stockpiles.
Exercises ensure operational readiness in exceptional conditions
While agreements and plans provide a strong foundation for emergency operations, they alone do not prepare actors or ensure smooth operations under exceptional conditions.
Regular exercises, such as test procurements from reserved production companies, strongly support preparedness. The best preparedness for exceptional conditions occurs when operations during emergencies closely resemble normal operations.
Preparing for emergencies also involves considering responses to atypical event chains – for example, through scenario-based planning. By exploring “what if” questions in various scenarios, society’s ability to cope in crises is significantly improved.
Ensuring security of supply is fundamentally about collaboration between various stakeholders. Finland’s tightly knit security of supply organization has created an effective structure and operational culture to support this.
Mectalent is a defense industry partner in critical component manufacturing
Military security of supply requires a robust domestic defense industry. Mectalent has been active in the defense sector for over 20 years. We have served as a contract manufacturer for some of Finland’s most well-known defense companies.
Mectalent is a top expert in product development, demanding equipment manufacturing, and precision mechanics. We have extensive design and production capabilities in precision mechanics and have participated in manufacturing critical subcomponents, weapons system parts, and components for explosive production.
In the next blog post, which will be published in a couple of weeks, I’ll dive into the rapidly increasing defense budgets across Europe. It’s a highly topical issue, so stay tuned.
Read the other parts of the defence industry blog series:
>> Finland’s operating environment has transformed as a NATO member
>> Domestic defence industry plays a key role in Finland’s new defence approach
>> The Finnish concept for comprehensive security: A global benchmark
Aleksi Heikkilä
Defence Advisor
Mectalent Oy
Mectalent’s Defence Advisor Aleksi Heikkilä holds a Master’s degree in Military Sciences and has served in officer roles in the Finnish Defence Forces. In the business world, he has worked in security and the defense industry since 2015. Thanks to his career, Heikkilä has built an extensive network within defense industry companies, the Defence Forces, and Finland’s national emergency supply organization.
Sources used in this blog:
- Security Strategy for Society, Government, Helsinki 2025
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Government report on security of supply, Helsinki 2022
