According to information published by the Finnish MoD on June 29, 2023, Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen has approved the purchase of 17 additional Jurmo-class landing craft along with spare parts, as part of a move to sustain and enhance the mobility of coastal troops until the end of the 2030s.
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Jurmo class landing craft. (Picture source: Finnish MoD)
The landing craft will be supplied by Marine AluTech Oy AB. The procurement, excluding value added tax, is valued at EUR 25.5 million, and is projected to generate domestic employment equivalent to 110 person-years.
With a significant coastline and numerous islands, Finland's geographic conditions present unique defense and logistics challenges that landing crafts, like the Jurmo-class, are well-suited to address.
Firstly, landing crafts are fundamental to amphibious operations. They provide the critical ability to transport troops, equipment, and vehicles from sea to shore.
This becomes vital in scenarios of direct engagement or during defensive maneuvers. In times of conflict, these crafts can deliver troops to the frontline rapidly, even under hostile conditions.
About the landing craft
The craft weighs in at 3.0 tons, with a displacement of 13.9 tons. It measures 14.1 meters in length and 3.65 meters across its beam, with a draught of 0.7 meters.
The installed power comes from two 331kW Caterpillar C7 diesel engines. For propulsion, it utilizes two Rolls-Royce Kamewa FF375 waterjets. The Jurmo-class landing craft can reach speeds of up to 37 knots, or 30 knots when fully loaded, and has a range of 180 nautical miles.
It accommodates a crew of 2 and can transport up to 20 troops. The armament options are versatile and include a 12.7 mm NSV machine gun, a 40 mm grenade machine gun, or a 120 mm NEMO mortar.
