Current Title:	Suomen Maavoimat
Title in English:	Finnish Army Aviation
Abbreviation:	SM

Narrative Summary:
An Army helicopter flight was formed on 1 January 1997, with equipment transferred from the Air Force.

Key Dates:
1 January 1997		Army aviation unit established.

Current Status:
To be added.

Future Plans:
20 NHI NH.90 tactical transport helicopters are on order to replace the Mi-8.
Procurement of up to 20 dedicated attack helicopters - such as the AH-64 or Tiger.

National Insignia:

          Main marking 
The main marking is displayed on the fuselage sides of the helicopters. A fin flash is not carried. Aircraft do not carry service titles.

Aircraft Serial Numbering System(s):
Finnish army helicopters used the same serialling system as the air force - a two-letter prefix designating the aircraft type and a two or three figure number for each airframe.

Unit/Base Aircraft Code System(s):
Coding system not used

Aircraft Designation System(s):
None - Manufacturers designations used

Current Aircraft Inventory:

Aircraft Type	Total Del'd	Total Now	Role	Origin
MDD MD 500D	3	2	AOP/Liaison	Air Force
MDD MD 500E	6	6	AOP/Liaison	Air Force/USA
Mil Mi-8P/8T	14	4	Transport/SAR/Firefighting	Air Force
NHI NH90TTH	20*	1	Transport	local

* on order.

All-Time Aircraft Used List:

Aircraft Type	Quantity	Service Entry	Retirement	Origin
MDD MD 500D	3	1997	current	Air Force
MDD MD 500E	6	1997	current	Air Force/USA
Mil Mi-8P/8T	14	1997	curent	Air Force
NHI NH90TTH	20*	2008	curent	local

* on order.

Aircraft NOT Used:
No false reports known.

Main Headquarters:
PL3041161, Tikkakoski, Jyväskylä.

Current Organisational Structure:
Army Aviation comprises one Battalion with two Companies.

Current Order of Battle:

Battalion	Squadron	Type	Base
Helikopteri Pataljoona (Helicopter Battalion)
	1 Helikopteri Komppania	Mi-8	Rovaniemi
	2 Helikopteri Komppania	MD 500D/E	Rovaniemi

Historical Orders of Battle:
To be added.

All-Time Flying Units List:
Not applicable.

Current Air Bases:
The main Army Aviation base is Rovaniemi.

All-Time Air Bases Used List:
To be added.

Books:

To be added

Magazines:

Combat Aircraft Aug-Sept 1997

Websites:

Finnish Defence Forces Official Website

wikipedia: Equipment of the Finnish Army

airliners.net