Search

The Air Force Band The Air Force Band, or Air Force Big Band, primarily performs big band music. As necessary, the 21-piece orchestra is divided up to form dance, jazz and popular music ensembles. In the context of parades and other traditional ev...

Air Force Big Band (17 musicians: 13 wind instrument players and a rhythm section) The programme includes a wide variety of foreign and domestic big band music from the 1920s to today. The band’s repertoire ranges from swing, latin music and soul ...

Air Force Jazz Band (rhythm section and 1–3 wind instruments as needed) Anything from atmospheric pieces and jazz standards to mellow background music as the occasion requires! Facebook Share on Facebook Twitter Share on Twitter LinkedIn Share on ...

The Air Force Academy is the sole Air Force unit with a primary educational and training role, and in that capacity it provides university-level military education. We train active duty personnel, conscripts, and reservists for a wide range of air defense specialties.

The Air Forces Combo (rhythm section + 3–6 wind musicians + soloist) The "official" Air Force party band has dished out danceable tunes in many events of the Defence Forces and private companies. With the help of guest vocalists, this band can han...

The Midnight Hawks is the official aerobatic team of the Finnish Air Force. The team with its four Hawk jet trainers has proudly presented the consummate flying skills of Finnish military pilots in air shows in Finland and abroad since 1997. All Midnight Hawks pilots are qualified air combat and Hawk flight instructors at the Air Force Academy, rehearsing aerobatics on top of their teaching responsibilities.

Finnish Defence Forces contacts and media contacts.

We defend Finland together – national parade on the Independence Day of Finland in Kouvola this year The Finnish Defence Forces will celebrate the 108th Independence Day of Finland by way of a national parade on 6 December in Kouvola. The theme of...

Ensembles Air Force Big Band: The most known finnish Air Force band ensemble. The band specialises in entertainment and big band music. Ceremonial Brass: This ensemble plays traditional march and ceremonial music. The Air Forces Combo: Air Force o...

In the course of their colourful history, military bands have performed in compositions as large as 250 musicians and taken numerous trips to perform abroad.

Conductors Chief Conductor Major (Mus.) Ville Paakkunainen Ville Paakkunainen (born 1978) served as the chief conductor of the Conscript Band of the Finnish Defence Forces 2017-2020. Before that, he served as the conductor of the Guards Band, the ...

Music and Experiences Across Finland This summer, the Finnish Defence Forces' MILjazz tour offers an even more diverse music program! The tour, which kicks off on May 29 in Seinäjoki, will bring the bands to nine different locations. The tour will...

As a conscript in the Armoured Brigade The Armoured Brigade offers a wide range of training options and training takes place in several battalion-level units. Training focuses primarily on mechanised infantry tasks but all Army branches are repres...

Jaeger Brigade - About us The Jaeger Brigade trains troops for Northern Finland’s demanding circumstances and units specialised in regional combat in the Lapland area. The Jaeger Brigade is in charge of ordered tasks involving readiness and operat...

Armoured Brigade The Armoured Brigade is a specialist in armoured troops, logistics, ground-based air defence and electronic warfare. The Armoured Brigade is located in Tavastia Proper. The renowned Defence Forces’ Conscript Band is also a part of...

3.11.2025 | The Finnish Defence Forces will celebrate the 108th Independence Day of Finland by way of a national parade on 6 December in Kouvola. The theme of the parade is We defend Finland together. The review of troops will take place at Kouvola Finnish baseball stadium, and the pass in review on Salpausselänkatu. The Finnish Defence Forces’ and other agencies’ equipment and activity will be available for familiarisation at Sumulaakso. The events are free of charge.

27.2.2026 | This year, the Army Seminar programme included talks about Russia’s war of aggression given by Ukrainian soldiers and discussions about collective defence of NATO’s Eastern flank. Apart from Ukraine, the 7th Army Seminar also had participants from NATO member states’ Army commands, NATO commands and the Finnish Defence Forces’ services.

Work in the Defence Forces Would you like to know more about work in the Defence Forces? Please keep in mind that a person appointed to a post within the Defence Forces must be a Finnish citizen and fulfil the eligibility requirements for a govern...

27.2.2026 | This year, the Army Seminar programme included talks about Russia’s war of aggression given by Ukrainian soldiers and discussions about collective defence of NATO’s Eastern flank. Apart from Ukraine, the 7th Army Seminar also had participants from NATO member states’ Army commands, NATO commands and the Finnish Defence Forces’ services.

26.8.2025 | The 109th Cadet Course and the 92st Midshipman Course graduate from the Bachelor of Military Sciences programme on 29 August 2025. The Supreme Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, President of the Republic Alexander Stubb will promote the 173 graduates to the rank of Lieutenant in the Presidential Palace's Hall of State. The graduation day with its traditional ceremonies will be a memorable event for the young officers.