Finland's Space Operations Centre scheduled to begin operating on 1 January 2027

Launch of the Finnish Defence Forces' second SAR satellite from Vandenberg Space Base on 11 January 2026. (SpaceX)

The Finnish Defence Forces' Space Operations Centre, based at Air Force Command Finland (AFCOMFIN) in Tikkakoski, near Jyväskylä, is scheduled to begin operations on 1 January 2027, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a 30 October 2026 press release.

The Space Operations Centre will serve as the command and control hub for space defence operations of the Finnish Defence Forces. It will also be used to coordinate military space activities with allies and partners, and will be responsible for commanding, planning, and operating the Finnish Defence Forces' space capabilities, according to a 30 October Finnish Air Force news release.

The Finnish Defence Forces' space capabilities will initially be based on an Iceye-supplied satellite remote sensing system which includes three synthetic-aperture radar (SAR) satellites, according to the Finnish Air Force. The three satellites were launched into orbit in 2025 and 2026, the Air Force said. In a 12 January 2026 release it said the second SAR satellite was launched on 11 January 2026. Iceye said the third was launched and deployed into orbit on 7 July 2026. The releases do not specify the first satellite's launch date.

Finland's MoD and Iceye signed a letter of intent (LoI) that allows Finland to purchase Iceye's SAR satellites to build the country's long-term space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, a Finnish Defence Forces representative told Janes on 30 June 2025.

The Finnish Defence Forces will assume responsibility for operating the satellites from Iceye on 1 April 2027, according to the Air Force release.