Finnish Defence Forces to accelerate indigenous AI development with NestAI

The Finnish Defence Forces has released a new data and AI strategy designed to guide the organisation towards data-centric command and control and strengthened information and knowledge management. Beginning in 2025, the FDF will cooperate with NestAI to accelerate the development of AI capabilities. Working with leading companies will also help build the ecosystem for the FDF AI Centre of Excellence, which is planned to be operational at the start of 2026.

- In the Finnish Defence Forces leveraging artificial intelligence and datacentric command and control, information and knowledge management, means that our working procedures and culture will change. We need to be forerunners also in this field, in military national defence. To achieve this objective, we continuously search for the best competence and partners to support us in this development and ensure our capability to react to rapidly changing security threats. Strong cooperation guarantees the necessary competence and competitiveness in this race, points out Chief of Defence, General Janne Jaakkola.

Building capacity by harnessing data, information and knowledge

Changes in Europe's security environment and the rapid pace of technological development require the FDF to maintain strong responsiveness and resilience in research, development and innovation, as well as in operations. To meet this challenge, the FDF will pilot a new model of cooperative development that brings the organisation to work more closely with industry. This approach enables operational requirements to be incorporated promptly into joint development.

The data and AI strategy defines a clear objective.

- It involves transitioning to datacentric command and control in which structural data is combined with the practical experience of service personnel. This will support decision-making and make operating increasingly efficient. Alongside information and knowledge management, top technologies and product development capacities will be emphasized. In particular, cooperation with partners will be in a key role since partners sport the necessary competences, says Lieutenant Colonel Jussi Tuovinen from the Defence Command C5 DIV, who has been in primary planning responsibility concerning the strategy.

In practice, the data-centric approach means proactive use of data, information and knowledge; enhancement of operational processes; and analytics-supported decision-making. Key tools to improve daily work include, among other things, progressive use of facilitation intelligence and the systematic upskilling of personnel across the FDF. The strategy also seeks to ensure that the FDF's own product development and AI competencies support resilient development and respond to evolving needs.

The public version of the strategy document will be published on the Finnish Defence Forces' website.

Cooperation with leading companies

The FDF is preparing to establish the FDF AI Agency Centre of Excellence at the start of 2026. The centre will bring together expertise, development capacity and cooperation networks to apply AI to FDF needs.

The FDF already collaborates in AI and data processing with a range of companies, research institutes and universities. The new strategy emphasises resilient partnerships that strengthen the FDF's technological and operational capabilities. Working with leading companies will help the FDF operate more resiliently and efficiently with critical technologies.

Launched in 2025, cooperation with NestAI has accelerated the start-up of AI activities within the FDF. NestAI operates across logistics, security and defence, focusing on intelligent unmanned systems as well as command-and-control systems. NestAI is backed by PostScriptum, a founder's office chaired by Peter Sarlin, whose previous track record includes, among others, Silo AI.

- The competitiveness of Finland and Europe in the AI market is essential to ensuring our security. In line with PostScriptum's mission, NestAI is committed to building next-generation physical AI and strengthening Europe's defense capabilities in cooperation with the Finnish Defence Forces and other European partners. Our collaboration with the Defence Forces has gotten off to a strong start, and we are pleased to see how even a large organization can adapt quickly when necessary, says Peter Sarlin, Chair of PostScriptum.