RMC to get defence vessels design contract

Defence Minister Jussi Niinistö on Friday assigned the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command to sign a design contract with Rauma Marine Constructions (RMC) for the vessels to be built under the Squadron 2020 Project, said an official press release.

The value of the contract is 7.5 million euro excluding any value-added tax.

The design contract follows a memorandum of understanding signed between the Defence Forces and RMC in September 2016. The designing process included in the contract further defines the concept of the vessels and produces the basic design materials required for manufacturing them. The contract to actually construct the vessels is scheduled to be signed in the course of 2018.

Industrial expertise will be bolstered and the security of supply in times of crisis will be ensured when the design phase is implemented in Finland.

Under the Squadron 2020 Project seven vessels, which have already been or are scheduled to be decommissioned, will be replaced and the capabilities of the new vessels to counter contemporary threats will be upgraded.

RMC, the Rauma-based shipbuilding company will construct four of the vessels with the capacity to operate in icy conditions.

The Defence Forces Logistics Command will look into the prospects of the Finnish-owned RMC acting as the ship-building partner in the Squadron 2020 Project.

The logistics command in cooperation with RMC will ensure its shipyard capacity, security of supply, and other building prerequisites for combat vessels. More than 80 domestic and international suppliers responded to the request for information regarding the Squadron 2020.