In January 2026, Finland withdrew from the Ottawa Convention, the anti-personnel landmine (APL) ban it signed in 2012, alongside Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, fearful of Russia’s potential aggression.
According to Finnish outlet “Ruotuväki,” Finland is about to take the next step – to reintroduce an APL stockpile in readiness to protect its 1,300-kilometer (800-mile) border with Russia.
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Colonel Riku Mikkonen, inspector of the Finnish Engineering Corps, said the Finnish Defense Forces will allocate €100 million ($112 million) for domestic production of the mines.
The outlet said Finnish companies have the production capacity and capability to meet the requirement, which is said to be around 1 million mines, about the same quantity it held before signing the convention.
Mikkonen said the aim was to begin production of the mines in 2028.
“We have a materiel project underway that is currently in the preparation and market survey phase. At the same time, we are defining the technical requirements for the mines,” he said.
Details of the project
It will take several years to replenish the stockpile, and production is slated to start in 2028.
The decision to purchase the mines from Finnish producers will not only support domestic industry and ensure supply security, but also serve a more prosaic purpose: Most other European countries are signatories to the APL treaty, so their industry is precluded from manufacturing mines.
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According to Mikkonen, Finnish companies already have designs for the types of mines Finland wants and the raw materials, machinery, and production lines needed.
However, production will not begin until all preparations are complete.
“We want to ensure that all background work and preparations are carried out properly,” he said.
He also indicated that multiple suppliers will be necessary to manufacture mine bodies, supply fuses and explosive charges. The plan envisages two types of mines: modern pipe mines and pressure-activated APL.
Mikkonen said the country is aiming for simplicity.
“The product we are looking for at this stage is simple – easy to manufacture and easy to use,” he said.
He added that Finland is “also conducting research and development regarding more technically advanced models” that “may potentially be acquired in the next phase.”
This could include scatterable mines, directional fragmentation mines using tripwire, pressure or “proximity” initiation. A training program for the mines’ usage has already been included for the 2026 contingents of conscripts.
The article says that beyond the initial procurement, producers will be required to maintain their capabilities to address any changes in the security situation – several million mines have been laid by both sides in the war in Ukraine.
“We must ensure that companies have the capacity to rapidly produce more if the need arises,” Mikkonen said.
He also pointed out that since there is no current domestic APL industry, the program will take time to complete.
“In a sense, this has started from scratch in Finland. Everything takes time, even when we would like to get things done faster.”
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