Finland Prepares for Close-Range Armoured Warfare with German RGW 110 Heavy Anti-Tank Weapons.

Finland is preparing its infantry to confront modern Russian tanks at close range with a new generation of powerful German-made RGW 110 anti-tank weapons, according to a Finnish Army announcement on October 28, 2026. The €84.5 million deal will replace ageing APILAS systems with 110 mm weapons designed to penetrate heavy armour and defeat explosive reactive protection, giving Finnish soldiers greater firepower against advancing armoured forces. With deliveries starting in 2027, the acquisition will strengthen Finland’s ability to stop enemy tanks in its dense forests and restricted terrain while reinforcing NATO’s northern defences along the Russian border.

Finland has ordered €84.5 million worth of German-made RGW 110 anti-tank weapons to replace its ageing APILAS systems, strengthening infantry firepower against modern armoured threats and reinforcing NATO’s northern defences (Picture Source: Finnish MoD)

Finland is strengthening its infantry anti-tank capabilities with a new generation of German-made weapons designed to counter heavily armoured vehicles at close range. According to an official announcement by the Finnish Army, supported by a Ministry of Defence decision announced on 28 October 2026, Finland has authorized the acquisition of RGW 110 anti-tank weapons from Dynamit Nobel Defence to replace its ageing APILAS systems. Valued at approximately €84.5 million, excluding VAT, the procurement will strengthen Finland's territorial defence and reinforce NATO's northern deterrence posture, with deliveries and training beginning in 2027.

RGW 110: A New Generation of Close-Range Anti-Tank Firepower

The RGW 110, developed by German defence manufacturer Dynamit Nobel Defence, is a 110 mm shoulder-fired, single-use anti-tank weapon designed to engage heavily armoured vehicles, including modern main battle tanks, while also offering capabilities against other vehicles and fortified structures. Developed as a new generation of the company's established Panzerfaust weapon family, the system combines advanced anti-armour technology with a portable weapon concept suitable for infantry operations. The RGW 110 family includes a tandem-warhead configuration designed to overcome explosive reactive armour (ERA), which uses explosive elements to disrupt incoming anti-tank projectiles, before attacking the vehicle's underlying armour. This capability is particularly relevant against modern Russian tanks equipped with additional protective systems. However, penetrating reactive armour is different from overcoming active protection systems (APS), which are designed to detect and intercept incoming threats. The exact Finnish warhead configuration and its detailed performance characteristics have not been publicly disclosed, making it important to distinguish the weapon's intended capabilities from independently verified results against specific tank models.

Related Topic: Finland Orders Saab RBS 70 NG to Strengthen Air Defense Across NATO’s Strategic Northern Flank

The acquisition will replace the French-designed APILAS heavy anti-tank weapon acquired by Finland during the 1980s, marking an important modernization of infantry firepower. Colonel Ari Mure, Inspector of Infantry at Finnish Army Command, has emphasized the continuing threat posed by main battle tanks and the need for an effective heavy weapon capable of destroying them at close range. Finland's extensive forests, restricted lines of sight and fragmented terrain make portable anti-armour weapons especially valuable, allowing dispersed infantry formations to maintain defensive firepower in environments where long-distance engagements are not always possible. The RGW 110 will also complement Finland's existing 66 KES 12 lightweight anti-tank launchers and Spike SR and LR2 guided missile systems, creating additional flexibility between lighter infantry weapons and specialized guided missiles. Unlike guided missiles, the RGW 110 uses an unguided projectile, offering a simpler single-use solution for suitable close-range engagements. Finnish defence authorities have also highlighted the advantages of concentrating anti-tank fire from multiple positions, reducing the physical burden on soldiers and simplifying logistical requirements. This approach supports Finland's territorial defence model, which depends on maintaining capable, mobile and widely distributed ground forces.

Why Finland's RGW 110 Acquisition Strengthens NATO's Northern Flank

Beyond replacing an ageing weapon, Finland's RGW 110 procurement carries broader strategic implications for NATO's collective defence in Northern Europe. Since joining NATO in April 2023, Finland has brought approximately 1,340 kilometres of shared border with Russia into the Alliance's defence framework, making its national military capabilities directly relevant to NATO's northeastern security architecture. The acquisition also comes as NATO expands its multinational military presence in the region. On 6 June 2026, NATO's Sweden-led Forward Land Forces Finland officially began operations, establishing a multinational arrangement involving a battlegroup in Boden, Sweden, and a staff element in Rovaniemi, Finland. Although the RGW 110 is a Finnish national procurement rather than an announced NATO multinational equipment programme, stronger Finnish infantry anti-tank capabilities contribute to the defensive foundation supporting Allied deterrence and reinforcement. In a potential confrontation involving mechanized forces, an attacking formation would need to overcome not only long-range artillery, guided missiles and surveillance systems but also dispersed infantry units capable of engaging armoured vehicles at close distances. This additional layer of resistance can increase the operational risks facing an aggressor and reinforce NATO's ability to defend territory across its northern flank.

The procurement also reflects lessons from Russia's war against Ukraine, where main battle tanks and infantry fighting vehicles have remained central to ground operations despite the widespread use of drones, precision-guided weapons and advanced battlefield surveillance. The proliferation of explosive reactive armour, additional vehicle protection and active protection technologies has increased the importance of developing effective anti-armour warheads. For Finland, the RGW 110 represents an investment in a weapon category that complements, rather than replaces, long-range anti-tank missiles, mines, artillery, armoured vehicles and unmanned systems. This layered approach provides commanders with several defensive options against mechanized threats while reducing dependence on any single weapon system. The acquisition also raises an important question of wartime sustainability: disposable anti-tank weapons are only effective as a broad defensive capability when sufficient stocks, training and reliable replenishment arrangements are available. Although the programme includes training equipment and instruction, Finnish authorities have not publicly disclosed the number of weapons to be acquired, the exact delivery quantities or the timetable for completing the replacement of APILAS. The scheduled start of deliveries in 2027 represents the beginning of the transition rather than confirmation of full operational deployment across the Army.

Finland's decision to introduce the RGW 110 represents more than the replacement of a decades-old anti-tank launcher. It reinforces a fundamental requirement of modern land warfare: infantry formations must retain the ability to confront heavily protected vehicles when combat moves into forests, urban areas and other close-range environments. For NATO, the modernization strengthens Finland's contribution to a layered territorial defence system along one of the Alliance's most sensitive borders, complementing the expansion of multinational military cooperation across Northern Europe. As deliveries and training begin in 2027, the RGW 110 is positioned to become an important element of Finland's future anti-tank capability, improving the resilience of its ground forces and reinforcing the credibility of NATO's collective defence against mechanized threats.

Explore More Defense News

• Land Defense News
• Naval Defense News
• Defense Aerospace News

Written by Teoman S. Nicanci – Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group

Teoman S. Nicanci holds degrees in Political Science, Comparative and International Politics, and International Relations and Diplomacy from leading Belgian universities, with research focused on Russian strategic behavior, defense technology, and modern warfare. He is a defense analyst at Army Recognition, specializing in the global defense industry, military armament, and emerging defense technologies.