The total value of the procurement is approximately EUR 15 million, with deliveries scheduled for completion by the end of 2025
The Finnish Defence Forces (FDF) and FMV – Försvarets materielverk (the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration) – have jointly placed an order for KNL’s Cognitive Networked HF (CNHF) Manpack radios.
This procurement marks the first joint acquisition under the NORDEFCO Implementing Arrangement for Joint Procurement of C4I systems, signed in April 2025 by KNL, the FDF, and FMV. The agreement represents a major step forward in Nordic defence cooperation, providing a shared strategic framework for interoperable communications, joint situational awareness, decision-making support, and intelligence capabilities. This approach ensures that Finnish and Swedish forces are better prepared to operate together from day one, with aligned technology and doctrine.
Finnish Defence Forces: High standards for HF communication
“The Finnish Defence Forces have conducted a thorough and demanding evaluation of the HF radio solutions available on the market in recent years. Our operational requirements necessitate an HF communications system, including fixed stations and manpacks, all sharing the same waveform, that is both highly capable and reliable, and that can seamlessly integrate into the broader C4I architecture. We have determined that KNL’s Cognitive Networked HF (CNHF) system fully meets these modern and future requirements. Moreover, through joint procurement of the CNHF manpack radios, we are enhancing Nordic defence cooperation and strengthening joint operational capabilities across all branches and special operating forces,” said Major General Jarmo Vähätiitto, Chief of C5, FDF Defence Command.
KNL: Revolutionary wideband HF capability enabling Nordic interoperability
“The CNHF Manpack is a revolutionary wideband HF radio. It is in a league of its own in terms of performance, reliability, and ease of use. All CNHF radios operate completely independently of any infrastructure, including GPS services, ensuring sovereignty and continuity of communications even in the most challenging conditions.
This first joint order by the FDF and FMV under the NORDEFCO C4I framework represents not only a technical milestone but also a strategic one – building a shared communication infrastructure that supports seamless interoperability and secure joint operations across the Nordic region. We are proud to provide both Finland and Sweden with the latest HF-radio technology,” said Toni Lindén, CEO of KNL.
