Finnish defence industry joins Minister of Defence Häkkänen on Japan visit
Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen will visit Japan between 26–28 October, accompanied by a business delegation representing 20 Finnish companies at the forefront of defence and dual-use technologies. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral relations and advance cooperation in defence and technology.
During the visit, Minister of Defence Häkkänen will meet Japan’s Minister of Defense Shinjiro Koizumi and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Toshimitsu Motegi. The accompanying Finnish companies will present their cutting-edge technologies at business seminars and meetings to seek commercial opportunities.
This visit marks another step forward in the steady progress over the past several years in strengthening defence relations between Finland and Japan. A notable milestone was in June 2025, when Finland’s President Alexander Stubb and Japan’s then Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba agreed to pursue closer policy dialogue and to speed up negotiations on the transfer of defence equipment and technology. This led to the signing of the joint statement in February 2026 to enhance cooperation in dual-use and advanced technology. “Security in Europe and in the Indo-Pacific can no longer be treated as separate questions,” says Defence Minister Häkkänen, reflecting on his upcoming visit to Japan. “Partnership among countries that share the same basic principles has become indispensable to national defence.”
The mutual interest and continuous discussions in the defence and security fields have already yielded tangible results. Licensed production of Patria’s armoured vehicle in Japan led to the first delivery to the Self-Defense Forces last year. In fact, Japan was Finland’s second-largest market for defence exports in 2025. And this is just the beginning. “Cooperation now also extends to dual-use and deep technologies: space, unmanned systems, aviation and trusted digital solutions,” says Häkkänen.
From armoured vehicles to AI, cybersecurity and dual-use technologies
Finnish strength lies in the comprehensive security model and dual-use technologies, in which Japan has also shown interest. Some of the visiting Finnish companies to note are:
Patria develops and supplies defence equipment and systems, including armoured vehicles and weapon systems, as well as providing long-term maintenance and support. With more than 100 years of experience, the company works with defence forces in Finland and other European countries, as well as in Japan. It recently demonstrated the remote operation of a Patria AMV armoured vehicle in Finland from a remote operating desk in Tokyo, a distance of more than 7,800 kilometres. The same operating concept can support future applications such as unmanned logistics operations, convoying, and autonomous waypoint navigation. patriagroup.com
ICEYE owns and operates the world’s largest privately owned constellation of Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) satellites. It can provide data in any weather and at any time, seeing through clouds or smoke. Its technology is being used worldwide, for example in Ukraine, delivering satellite imagery to its Armed Forces to gain a faster and better understanding of events on the ground. The construction of a Japanese satellite constellation is also underway. IHI Corporation has agreed to buy four satellites from ICEYE, and two of them are already operational. The other two are planned for launch in the first quarter of 2027. ICEYE is busy building satellites in its office in Shibuya, Tokyo.
iceye.com
Sensofusion’s mission is to defend humans against robots. It develops systems that detect, track and help stop unauthorised or hostile drones. Its technology can warn users about approaching drones and help counter them using electronic countermeasures and interceptor systems. The company has delivered over 1,000 systems worldwide, including over 100 used in Ukraine since 2022. In Japan, the company can offer nationwide airspace surveillance and counter-drone protection. sensofusion.com
Other Finnish companies and organisations visiting Japan:
Alaris COJOT designs and develops antennas for tactical communication, electronic software and spectrum monitoring applications. It provides a broad range of field-proven antenna solutions for mobile and fixed-site installation environments in the global defence and security markets. cojot.alaris.tech
BEVENIC specialises in advanced electronics, photonics, and defence solutions. In defence, the company develops and manufactures fibre-optic communication solutions for unmanned systems, weapon accessories, and other mission-critical technologies. bevenic.com
Bittium provides tactical and secure communications solutions for the defence and security domain. With over 40 years of experience, it provides services to the Finnish Defence Forces and other armed forces and government authorities across Europe.
bittium.com
Digital Defence Ecosystem, a network of leading Finnish defence/technology companies and research institutes, aims to boost industry and exports, bridge the gap between dual-use and defence tech, and build resilience while supporting defence and security. digitaldefence.fi
Distance Technologies develops new ways to see the world through technology, grounded in computational perception. Its visual intelligence powers next-generation lightfield HUDs, helmet-mounted AR, defence vehicles, handheld systems, and beyond.
distance-tech
Finnish Defence House is a defence innovation venture studio which owns the full innovation pipeline, from conflict-validated field requirements and academic research to investment-ready companies at procurement scale. defencehouse.fi
FORCIT Defence develops high-technology defence systems, with particular expertise in insensitive munitions solutions. The business also works on land- and sea-based defence systems, including solutions related to ammunition, A2/AD and the neutralisation of sea mines. forcitdefence.com
KNL specialises in resilient communications, digital battlefield connectivity, electronic warfare and long-range tactical networking. It provides secure, reliable beyond-line-of-sight connectivity from dismounted and mounted operations to unmanned and autonomous systems across multi-domain environments.
knl.fi
Kuva Space designs, builds, and operates the world’s most extensive constellation of hyperspectral satellites through breakthrough space and AI technology.
kuvaspace.com
Marine Alutech is one of the leading combat boat designers and manufacturers in the global market. marinealutech.com
Nokia is a global leader in connectivity for the AI era. With expertise across mobile, fixed and cloud networks, it supports service providers, enterprises, governments and defence organisations in delivering secure, reliable and sustainable communications. nokia.com
Robonic is a global supplier of pneumatic UAS launch systems, providing cost-effective, flexible and reliable launch solutions for UAVs, one-way effectors, target drones and other unmanned flying assets. robonic.fi
Savox offers a wide range of communication devices and solutions for global defence, law enforcement, fire and rescue, and industrial markets. The broad product portfolio covers tactical communication controllers, advanced hearing protection, rugged ICT devices, and search and rescue systems, and next-generation intercom and vision solutions. savox.com
Tactotek develops technology that integrates electrical functionality into lightweight molded airframes, eliminating wiring, soldering and screw fastening during final system assembly. tactotek.com
Varjo focuses on delivering the world’s most advanced VR/XR technology to demanding industries such as aerospace, defence, maritime, engineering, research, and more. The company’s technology is deployed in over 120 defence programmes worldwide. varjo.com
VTT is Europe’s foremost research institute that also focuses on strategic key areas such as quantum and space technologies, including 6G, data fusion and analysis, cybersecurity, microelectronics development and hyperspectral imaging. The dual use of Finnish civilian technology that VTT develops offers a significant advantage to the defence industry.
vttresearch.com
Xiphera provides hardware-based cryptographic IP cores for FPGA and SoC platforms, including traditional and post-quantum cryptography (PQC). The company also works with ESA and Frontgrade Gaisler on quantum-secure solutions for space applications. xiphera.com