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NO FEAR IN FINLAND ⟩ "Reserve Army Is the Only Viable Way to Win a War with Russia": Insight into Finland's Military Future with Lieutenant General Mikko Heiskanen

Photo: Madis Veltman
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In this exclusive interview, Lieutenant General Mikko Heiskanen offers a rare glimpse into Finland’s evolving defense strategy amid a transforming geopolitical landscape.

Interviewer: General Heiskanen, your Twitter account has a slogan in Finnish that translates to "deep down, still a guerrilla fighter from Sodankylä." This is quite unorthodox for a general in charge of war economy and a heavily armed conventional army. What does that slogan stand for?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: It’s a reminder that at heart, I am still an Arctic Ranger signals officer. My earlier military background is as Chief of Signals in the Jaeger Brigade. The Arctic Ranger patrols usually lasted one to four weeks, during which we were out in the wild with heavy equipment, often alone.

Interviewer: We’re having this interview at the Finnish Embassy in Tallinn. What brings you to Estonia?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: I’m here to discuss security of supply cooperation with my Estonian colleagues, especially regarding the common equipment platforms our countries use. Additionally, we’re talking about wartime reinforcement and sustainment of our defense forces, which makes more sense now that both our countries are in NATO.

There is a new ally on the block. History has shown that the Finnish nation delivers on its military promises.
There is a new ally on the block. History has shown that the Finnish nation delivers on its military promises. Photo: shutterstock.com

Interviewer: How has Finnish accession to NATO changed Finnish-Estonian military cooperation? Any new developments post-accession?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: Definitely. Common military planning is a new phenomenon. Previously, this wasn’t possible for understandable reasons. Not all planning happens in the big NATO headquarters; Estonia and Finland have mutual military interests and room for improvement in bilateral planning. We’ve started acquiring common weapon systems, like the Korean K-9 howitzers, and this shared approach encourages local industry cooperation.

Interviewer: What changes have occurred in the Finnish military since joining NATO?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: Honestly, we haven’t made major changes. It took about two weeks to integrate Finnish operational planning with NATO’s. The main change has been an increase in international exercises, with troops staying longer in Finland. This is our version of enhanced allied presence, where allied troops stay longer but aren’t permanently stationed in Finland.

Interviewer: So Finland’s NATO accession was plug-and-play?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: In some sense, yes. However, we’re still addressing many military issues. We aim to be a provider of security, not just a consumer. This involves meeting NATO defense and force planning goals, including higher deployability for certain units. We’re also sending Finnish officers and personnel to NATO command structures.

Interviewer: Why are Finland and Sweden militarily subordinated to Norfolk, USA, instead of Brunssum, Netherlands, like the rest of the Baltic Sea land forces?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: There’s a practical military reasoning behind this that political leaders agree on. This split varies across domains. Finnish ground forces might be subordinated to Norfolk, but there are different command structures for air forces and navies. If Saint Petersburg weren’t between Finland and Estonia, we would probably be in the same command line.

In Lebanon, Estonian Defense Forces have served shoulder to shoulder with their Finnish colleagues as part of the UN peacekeeping mission.
In Lebanon, Estonian Defense Forces have served shoulder to shoulder with their Finnish colleagues as part of the UN peacekeeping mission. Photo: Roland Murof

Interviewer: Estonia’s outgoing Chief of Defense, General Martin Herem, has advocated for replenishing large-caliber ammo stocks. Finland has the largest artillery ammunition production in Europe. Does this give you flexibility in peacetime stocks?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: Our strategy is to meet peacetime minimum levels while maintaining production. Unlike many nations, we’ve kept our military industry running, so our ammunition stocks haven’t depleted. Finnish artillery shell production capacity is currently the largest in Europe, but France and Germany will surpass us by 2025 or 2026. We must be prepared for attrition warfare, ensuring supply security for peacetime and wartime, including raw materials and components.

Interviewer: Finland and Estonia advocate for military conscription. Could you convince other allies to establish or reinstate it?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: Finland advocates for the reserve army model in NATO as it’s essential for taking on the Russians and winning a war of attrition. Security of supply requires scaling up efforts, and this scaling needs personnel. We must ensure all material components are managed throughout the wartime production cycle.

Interviewer: Russia is outproducing the West in artillery shells 3:1. Does the West have a plan to match this?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: Including Europe and North America, the West will soon surpass Russia’s production capacity. Russia uses almost slave labor in factories and state-controlled production chains, which we can’t and shouldn’t match.

Interviewer: You’ve mentioned that Finnish artillery ammo is cheaper than Western ammo. Why is that?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: The Finnish Government has invested in the production chain, partly owned by the Finnish Defense Forces. We have a strategic partnership with Nammo Company, which produces 155 mm howitzer shells, and we’ve agreed on a profit percentage. This is possible because it’s partly indirectly owned by the Finnish Government.

Interviewer: Should other nations follow your model?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: Yes, but they must consistently order and invest in their companies. Finland also uses a third-party model, where our National Emergency Supply Agency stores raw materials. Companies critical to supply security must store raw materials, which applies to both defense and civilian industries.

One could argue that with Alexander Stubb as Finnish president, there is a greater agreement than ever between Tallinn and Helsinki regarding security and defense policy.
One could argue that with Alexander Stubb as Finnish president, there is a greater agreement than ever between Tallinn and Helsinki regarding security and defense policy. Photo: Vabariigi Presidendi Kantselei/Raigo Pajula

Interviewer: Estonia faces war anxiety. How does Finland manage this?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: Finns remember the Winter War of 1939. The Russian aggression against Ukraine reminded us of our history, and our preparations aim to prevent war. The nation woke up on its own, so we don’t need to remind them.

Interviewer: The Ukraine war sees rapid technological innovation cycles. Are Western military bureaucracies ready for this?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: We need an agile industrialization model. Wartime prototyping differs from peacetime due to immense time pressure, accepting more risk. We must create a model allowing agile innovations during wartime, similar to the Ukrainian approach.

Interviewer: Is Finland ready for a massive drone war?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: Within a year or two, we’ll be ready. We have a plan to mass-produce drones and autonomous systems, including water and underwater capabilities. The question is how to industrialize this innovation model.

Interviewer: Finland has dispersed military stocks to Sweden. Was this learned from Ukraine or anticipating developments on the eastern border?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: It’s about not having all your eggs in one basket. Militaries are dispersing critical stockpiles for accessibility. It’s a complex task involving national, NATO, and U.S. stocks, requiring optimization.

Interviewer: Baltic states and Poland are investing heavily in military border defense. Is Finland doing the same?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: Finland is building up a border fence, but with 1,300 kilometers, it’s a gradual process. We practice fortifications annually and build them in operationally relevant places. We have a readiness building plan with stored materials and components for quick assembly.

Interviewer: Has the Israeli-Gaza war affected weapons delivery to Finland?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: No delays have occurred. The David’s Sling system covers a wide area and has performed well in recent conflicts. We are proud of this procurement.

Interviewer: European generals seem more vocal post-February 2022. Why?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: It varies. Some nations need a wake-up call, but not Finland. We assure our public there’s no imminent threat. Nations farther from Russia need this wake-up call to prepare, as armament acquisition and capability building take time.

Interviewer: What is the Finnish assessment of Russia’s military industry capacity?

Lt. Gen. Heiskanen: We shouldn’t underestimate Russia’s endurance in attrition warfare. They produce basic ammunition with domestic raw materials and less consumer goods, focusing more on the war industry.

Photo: Madis Veltman

Lieutenant General Mikko Petteri Heiskanen, born on April 12, 1963, in Helsinki, has enjoyed a distinguished career in the Finnish Defense Forces. After graduating from the Military Academy, he took on significant leadership roles, including Deputy Company Commander in the Jaeger Brigade and Chief of Signals.

Heiskanen steadily rose through the ranks, serving in notable positions such as Battalion Commander of the Karelia Brigade and Military Representative to the EU and NATO. His expertise in C4 and logistics has been essential to his advancement. He is decorated with honors including the Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland and the NATO SFOR Medal for his contributions to international missions.

Married to Pia Heiskanen and a father of two, he has been serving as Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics and Armaments since 2023, highlighting his strategic importance to Finland's military operations.

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