Finland might be quite vocal against Israel, but that did not stop a large delegation from the Israel Defense Ministry (IMoD) from visiting for a defense seminar in the Nordic country.
Earlier this week, IMoD’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) led a delegation of 32 Israeli defense companies to the second Finnish-Israeli Defense Industry Seminar.
The delegation to the seminar held this week in the capital, Helsinki, was led by SIBAT Director, Brig.-Gen. (res.) Yair Kulas.
The delegation spanned the full spectrum of Israel’s defense industry, specialized across a wide range of domains, with particular focus on air defense, unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and counter-UAS technologies, and border protection, alongside autonomous systems, advanced munitions, C2 and communications, electro-optical solutions, HLS, and cyber intelligence.
It included seven new defense tech start-ups under the ministry’s Directorate of Defense Research and Development (DDR&D)’s Mafat for Startups (MFS) program, along with larger defense companies, such as Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Elbit Systems Tomer, UVision, Xtend, TSG, and Aeronautics.
Finnish-Israeli defense industry seminar, May 2026 (credit: ISRAEL DEFENSE MINISTRY)
Some 30 Finnish defense companies also attended the seminar that was co-organized with the Finnish Ministry of Defense and the Finnish Defense and Aerospace Industries Association (PIA). Defense and Tech by The Jerusalem Post understands that Finland’s deputy chief of staff, the head of the defense procurement administration, and the chair of the defense industry association, Tuija Karanko, also attended the seminar.
The two-day long seminar included structured B2B matchmaking sessions, professional briefings, regional security updates, and innovation showcases.
A Defense Ministry source told D&T that it was “similar to speed dating, but for defense companies,” describing how companies sat at small tables for several minutes, and, if they found a potential partner, they could spend additional time together.
The seminar followed a similar one held in India several weeks ago, as well as another in Miami at Israel-tech week. Others have been held in Asia and Europe.
“The seminar reflects the IMoD’s continued efforts to expand Israel’s defense exports and strengthen industrial partnerships with trusted partner nations,” a press release by the IMoD read.
It added that “Finland has distinguished itself as a steadfast and reliable partner, with its defense industry offering both world-class technological capability and an unwavering commitment to this relationship.”
Major Israeli companies already have subsidiaries in Finland, as well as significant cooperation with local Finnish firms. D&T understands that while Finnish purchases from Israeli defense industries may have been just a few millions of dollars a few years ago, they currently total hundreds of millions of dollars a year and are continuing to rise.
The largest single acquisition was the David’s Sling air defense system, which was purchased in 2023 for €316 million. Rafael also provided the Finnish Army with Spike anti-tank missiles in 2022 for €213 million. The third largest purchase was the Gabriel anti-ship missiles bought by the navy in 2018, priced at €162 million.
There are currently some 20 defense projects ongoing between the two countries.
According to the IMoD official, the biggest interest at the seminar was air defense and counter-UAS technology.
“Markets are important,” the IMoD official told D&T. “Finland gives us a gateway into NATO and the broader European market, including potential manufacturers who are up to NATO standards.”
Finland, which recently joined NATO, is facing a menacing Russian neighbor and has suffered drone incursions both from Ukraine and Russia. The country shares 1,340 kilometers of border with Russia and is considered a key northern flank against Moscow.
Earlier in the week, it was reported that Kyiv would send a delegation of experts in drone defense to Helsinki. In March, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Kyiv had intelligence suggesting that Russia has deliberately redirected drones toward Baltic states and Finland to inflame tensions.
Last month, Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu warned that the country reserves its “right to self defense” against Finland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania should Ukrainian drones use their airspace to strike targets.
As in other countries in Europe and across the world, there has been a sharp rise in antisemitism in Finland following Hamas’s deadly attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. There have been numerous anti-Israel demonstrations, boycotts of Israeli products, and speeches and other efforts to halt defense deals with Israel.
Last week, Finland’s parliament rejected a citizens’ initiative that aimed to restrict weapons purchases from Israel, voting it down with a large majority.
“It is quite clear that all arms trade with Israel should be stopped,” said Left Alliance MP and member of the Defense Committee, Timo Furuholm. “This kind of dependence on a country at war, which repeatedly violates human rights and whose state leadership is accused of crimes against humanity, is contrary to Finland’s foreign and security policy.” His party supported the initiative.
In its final report, the Defense Committee said it found the initiative valuable but that, overall, it would likely reduce procurement options, lead to slow decision-making, and weaken defense capability, while having only a limited impact on humanitarian law compliance.
Mathilda Heller contributed to this report