The Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command and Finnish shipbuilder Marine Alutech Oy Ab have signed an agreement for the delivery of 18 next-generation Watercat M12 Jurmo-class troop transport boats to the Finnish Navy.
The €25.2 million procurement is aimed at strengthening and securing the Finnish Navy’s coastal forces’ mobility in the country’s extensive archipelago, according to the Defence Forces Logistics Command.
The first Jurmo-class boats were built in the early 2000s, while some of the vessels currently in service underwent overhauls around the turn of the 2020s. The newly ordered boats will retain a similar external appearance to the earlier vessels but will incorporate structural updates based on operational experience and current requirements.
The updated boats are designated Jurmo-NG, or Next Generation. They will have a displacement of 15 tonnes and measure 14 meters in length and 3.7 meters in beam, with a draft of 1 meter. They can reach a maximum speed of 30 knots and have a crew of two. Their armament consists of one 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun.
The key tasks of the Jurmo-class boats include transport and maintenance missions for Finnish Navy units operating in the archipelago. Deliveries of the new boats are scheduled to begin in 2027 and be completed by 2029.
Last year, Sweden ordered 20 Watercat vessels, based on the Watercat M9, for its defense forces.