Finland Begins Concealing Arms Export Data

Finland has started to conceal details of its weapons exports, marking a departure from its longstanding transparency policy.

According to an investigation by Finnish public broadcaster Yle, the change began in 2021 and now affects a growing share of the country’s defense trade.

According to the Finnish Ministry of Defence, the shift was driven by evolving security concerns and, in some cases, by direct requests from exporters or recipient states.

The encrypted export licenses omit key information such as the exporter, end user, and the specific equipment involved. As a result, it is no longer possible to determine what types of weapons Finnish companies are selling, or to whom.

The policy change is seen as a significant shift. Until recently, all arms export licenses in Finland were part of the public record, in keeping with the country’s tradition of transparency.

Yle reports that the first encrypted export license was issued in June 2021, when the Vantaa-based company Sensofusion received permission to export anti-drone systems to Israel.

The legal justification for the change lies in Finland’s domestic legislation, particularly the Freedom of Information Act.
Sometimes the request for encryption is tied to commercial confidentiality or the destination country’s security interests, said Riika Pitkänen, a representative of the Ministry of Defence.

Another reason for concealing information can be a data security agreement between Finland and the country receiving the weapons. The ministry noted that Finland has bilateral information security agreements with more than 20 countries, which may further require confidentiality in defense transfers.

Expansion of production

Militarnyi reported that in March, local defense firm Patria had announced a €40 million investment to scale up production of armored vehicles at its Hämeenlinna facility. The funds will be used to build new workshops and boost manufacturing capacity.

In addition, the first foundation stone has been laid for a facility that will assemble and service F135 engines for F-35 fighter jets.