Finland to establish military space operations center in January 2027
- Facility to coordinate military space activities, NATO cooperation as Finnish forces prepare to take control of 3 radar satellites
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- Facility to coordinate military space activities, NATO cooperation as Finnish forces prepare to take control of 3 radar satellites
By Seyma Erkul Dayanc
ISTANBUL (AA) - Finland will establish a military space operations center at the Finnish Air Force headquarters in Tikkakoski on Jan. 1, 2027, Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen announced Friday.
The facility will oversee the Finnish Defense Forces' space activities, including the development, planning and operation of military capabilities, according to the Defense Ministry.
It will also coordinate cooperation with NATO and partner countries.
The center will initially employ around 20 military and civilian personnel, with staffing expected to increase in the coming years.
Hakkanen said the initiative was part of broader efforts to strengthen Finland's defense capabilities as space becomes an increasingly important operational domain.
The country's military space capabilities are based partly on three synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellites acquired from Finnish company ICEYE.
The military is expected to take operational control of the satellite system in April 2027.
Şeyma Erkul Dayanç