Europe — 2026-10-21

Finland to Build One Million Anti-Personnel Landmines After Ottawa Convention Withdrawal as Russian Threat Grows

BLUFFinland's mine procurement remains in early market review, making it unlikely that a signed production contract emerges by year-end 2026, though the program's trajectory toward one million mines signals a durable shift in Nordic defense posture.

Colonel Riku Mikkonen of the Army Command told Finnish news agency STT that the Defence Forces want one million anti-personnel mines from domestic manufacturers, with production starting in 2028 12. Yle and Al Jazeera put the budget at about €100 million 12, and The War Zone reports two types, a tripwire tube mine and a pressure-activated step mine 3. No contracts are signed; Mikkonen said about six Finnish firms qualify, and foreign purchase is not ruled out 24. The War Zone says no contract has been signed, though its lead describes one as due soon 3. Finland's withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention took effect on January 10 4. NordiskPost reports the International Campaign to Ban Landmines on October 12 urged leaders to press Finland and Poland to drop production plans 4.

Analysis
Confidence is low because the reporting traces to one stream: Yle relays Army Command statements from a single officer to STT, Al Jazeera and NordiskPost are secondary pickups, and The War Zone adds context without independent access. The procurement remains in market review and specification drafting, with no published tender timetable and Al Jazeera citing signature targeted for end-2027. It is unlikely that Finland's Defence Forces or Defence Ministry announce a signed anti-personnel mine contract by December 31, 2026. Requests for tender and supplier shortlists among the roughly six qualifying domestic firms are the next signals to watch, and a foreign purchase would shorten that path. Mikkonen may be understating the pace, since an urgent foreign purchase or framework agreement in 2026 could meet the 2027 delivery target for first mines and training equipment. A signed contract would push Finnish suppliers to commit capacity and Baltic and Polish planners to benchmark their own buys, while none keeps 2028 the planning assumption. Campaign appeals carry little leverage because Finland has already left the treaty.

4 sources

Finland buying a million landmines - Yle
Finland seeking one million land mines as it eyes Russian threat - Al Jazeera
Finland To Build A Million Landmines As Russian Threat Looms - The War Zone
Finland wants to produce one million anti-personnel mines by 2028 - NordiskPost