Patria & Solita secure RAVALU III contract for Finnish border security

Patria and Solita have secured a contract valued between €5 million and €10 million to provide the Finnish Border Guards with a border security information system under the RAVALU III project, according to a 21st January press release. 

The system will replace the existing operational information system between 2025 and 2027 and include the ability to integrate surveillance data from new platforms procured by the Finnish Border Guard, Solita states in its press release. 

The development of the new information system is in response to the “rapidly changing security situation in Europe”, according to Senior Vice President Lauri Helenius at Solita. RAVALU III was initiated in 2023 and preceded by RAVALU I and II, which procured additional drones for maritime and border surveillance. This is accompanied by a wide-ranging modernisation of the country’s security systems including new Turva class patrol vessels from Meyer Turku Oy, and the procurement of two CL650 aircraft from the Sierra Nevada Corporation to replace the Border Guard’s ageing Dornier 228 surveillance aircraft. 

Company profile: Patria

Patria is jointly owned by Finland (50.1%) and the Norwegian company Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS (49.9%). Patria also owns 50% of Nammo, short for Nordic Ammunition Company, which is also a collaborative project with Norway’s Ministry of Trade and Industry. 

Patria and Solita have a history of successful collaboration. One notable example is the Data Champions training program, which helped to develop Patria’s level of AI expertise. The program began in 2021 and consisted of joint training sessions and independent online exercises. It culminated with employees creating a small-scale project using data solutions to solve specific issues. Solita also has past success in digital transformation, with notable projects including the company’s work with Helsinki Public Transport and Fintraffic. 

Calibre Comment

The enhancement of Finland’s border security under the RAVALU projects is in response to growing regional security concerns. Finland and other Nordic states have been subject to the “weaponisation of migration” as an element of Russian active measures against them to influence their decision-making. Since this started in 2015, Finland has faced waves of migration leading the country’s parliament to enact an ‘emergency’ bill called the Act on Temporary Measures to Combat Instrumentalised Migration in 2024. 

By Austin Haywood, published on 24th January 2025.