Denmark and Finland Sign Deals for Finnish BLOCKER Naval Mines

Denmark and Finland have signed agreements with Finnish defence company Forcit to buy its BLOCKER naval mine. Both purchases fall under the Finland-led International Naval Mines Cooperation, which also includes Germany, Lithuania and Norway.

In June, Finland's Defence Forces Logistics Command signed a framework contract with Forcit on behalf of all five countries. The Finnish government put that deal at hundreds of millions of euros. No value was given for the new Danish and Finnish orders.

A naval mine on the deck of a Finnish Navy minelayer. File photo of an older S-43 mine (public domain).

What BLOCKER does

According to Forcit, BLOCKER is a smart influence mine with an explosive charge equivalent to more than 1,000 kg of TNT. It can be laid by boat, ship or helicopter and stay active on the seabed for up to two years. It detects ships through acoustic, pressure, magnetic and other sensors, and arms only after reaching the seabed.

Commander Steen Balslev of Denmark's defence procurement agency said international cooperation lets the countries acquire an important capability together.

Why the Baltic wants mines

Sea mines are among the cheapest ways to deny an enemy the use of coastal waters. For the Baltic and Nordic states, which face Russia's Baltic Fleet in narrow, shallow seas, they are a key part of defending ports and shipping lanes.

The Finnish Navy minelayer Pohjanmaa. File photo (public domain).