Upinniemi, Finland – The Finnish Navy and defence company Patria demonstrated coordinated autonomous systems operating across sea and air domains on November 5, 2026. The event also included the announcement of a new Unmanned Systems Company within the Navy’s Coastal Brigade, scheduled to be established in early 2027.
The demonstration featured Patria’s mission management system, which connects different unmanned platforms into a coordinated multi-domain swarm. The systems successfully completed an assigned mission while being remotely controlled from two separate locations in Finland.
The swarm included an unmanned surface vessel (USV), a lightweight fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and a Patria ONE quadcopter. The surface vessel was equipped with Patria’s modular autonomy kit, designed for installation on sufficiently modern vessels. The Patria ONE quadcopter was launched directly from the aft deck of a Finnish Navy Jehu-class combat vessel.
These platforms are designed for surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance. They can also operate in a one-way configuration, carrying warheads for direct strikes.
New Unmanned Systems Company in 2027
The new company will operate under the Coastal Brigade and train conscripts, military personnel and reservists to operate different unmanned systems. Conscription training will begin gradually throughout 2027.
According to Coastal Brigade Commander Commodore Henri Lavi, the unit will participate in naval operations and cooperate with other military branches, defence industries and international partners. Its systems will cover operations on the surface, underwater, in the air and on land, including the challenging conditions of the northern Baltic Sea, from open waters to coastal and archipelago areas.
Finnish Navy Commander Rear Admiral Tuomas Tiilikainen said the Navy plans to integrate unmanned systems into dedicated units or existing operational formations, including combat vessels and intelligence units.
Patria's Autonomous Systems Development
Patria has worked with the Finnish Defence Forces for several years to develop unmanned and autonomous capabilities. Mikko Leino, Executive Vice President of Patria’s Defence and Weapon Systems business area, described these technologies as an important part of the company's strategic partnership with the military. He also confirmed that Patria will continue investing in autonomous systems to strengthen its position in the European market.
The demonstration and the formation of the new company are part of Finland's wider effort to integrate autonomous systems into naval defence and improve coordinated operations across multiple domains.
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