Sweden · Finland · Nordic-Baltic Defence

Inside the
ecosystem.
From day one.

We are a Nordic firm — rooted in the Swedish and Finnish defence industry. We create real business value through direct industry access and a credible position in the Nordic-Baltic defence ecosystem.

We are not a gateway. We are already inside — with the relationships, credibility, and market knowledge that take others a decade to build.

What this means for your business
Industry access — from within
Introductions to FMV programme leads, Swedish and Finnish prime contractors, and armed forces capability owners — as a trusted Nordic peer, not an outside introducer.
A credible local presence
We help you build the story, partnerships, and visibility that make you a recognised name in the Swedish-Finnish defence ecosystem.
Commercial traction
Relationships that convert — from first introduction to sustained pipeline and long-term position in the market.
25+ Years at senior levels inside the Swedish and Finnish defence industry
SE · FI Home markets — with reach across the full Nordic-Baltic ecosystem
5 Major national procurement campaigns delivered, including Orka submarines

We are already
where you need to be.

"NDI operates from inside the Swedish and Finnish defence ecosystem — not as consultants looking in, but as industry insiders who open doors others cannot reach."

Most companies looking to grow in the Nordic defence market face the same barrier: credibility takes years to build, and programme windows don't wait. The right buyer at FMV, the right supply chain lead at a Swedish prime, the right introduction at the right time — these are not things you can buy or Google.

We bring them. As a Nordic firm with deep personal networks across the Swedish and Finnish defence establishment, we connect your company to the people, programmes, and partnerships that create lasting commercial value — not just initial meetings.

Direct connections to Swedish & Finnish buyers
We know the procurement leads at FMV, the capability owners in the Swedish and Finnish armed forces, and the supply chain decision-makers at the major primes. We make introductions as credible peers — with context already established on both sides.
Industrial partnerships that open programmes
In Sweden and Finland, who you partner with matters as much as what you offer. We identify and broker the right industrial relationships — with domestic companies, Tier 1 suppliers, and consortium partners that strengthen your market position.
A story that lands in this market
We build the narrative that makes your capabilities relevant and memorable to Nordic buyers — grounded in local priorities, defence policy, and the language that actually moves decisions in Sweden and Finland.
Presence across the full procurement cycle
Swedish and Finnish procurement cycles are long. We keep you visible, credible, and relevant through every phase — not just at bid time, but in the years that determine whether you're on the shortlist at all.

Boutique. Hands-on.
No retainers for their own sake.

We work with a small number of clients at a time. Every engagement is led directly by one of the three of us — no junior staff, no handoffs. We only take on work where we can genuinely move the needle.

01

Be honest about where you stand

We start with a direct assessment of your position in the Swedish-Finnish market — your credibility, your gaps, and a realistic view of what it will take to compete. If the timing or fit isn't right, we say so before you invest.

Output: A clear go/no-go view and an honest map of your entry path.
02

Connect you — with context

We don't cold-introduce. We prepare both sides of every meeting — ensuring your capabilities are understood correctly before you walk into the room, and that the person on the other side is the right one to be talking to.

Output: Qualified relationships with buyers, partners, and programme stakeholders who know who you are.
03

Build lasting market presence

A first meeting is not a pipeline. We stay engaged — helping you develop industrial partnerships, build your reputation in the ecosystem, and convert relationships into sustained commercial traction in Sweden and Finland.

Output: A recognised, credible position in the Swedish-Finnish defence industry.

Known before
you bid.

In Sweden and Finland, reputation is built slowly and lost quickly. We help you build it deliberately.

The companies that win in the Swedish and Finnish defence market are not just better on paper — they are known quantities. Their capabilities are understood. Their people are familiar. Their commitment to the market is visible and consistent.

We help you get there — through targeted positioning, presence at the right moments in the Swedish-Finnish defence calendar, and the industrial associations that signal genuine commitment to local buyers and primes.

Narrative & positioning Swedish/Finnish market voice Defence events & visibility Industrial credibility
A message that works in Sweden and Finland
We build positioning that speaks directly to what Swedish and Finnish buyers care about — domestic industrial value, NATO interoperability, long-term partnership, and sovereign capability.
Visibility where it matters
Sälen, DSEI Nordic, FOI seminars, FMV industry days — we know where credibility is established in this market, and we ensure you show up in the right way at the right moments.
The right industrial associations
Being seen alongside the right Swedish and Finnish companies sends a signal of its own. We broker the partnerships and consortium positions that build your credibility in the ecosystem.
Consistent presence over time
One event or one article does not build a reputation. We help you sustain a visible, credible presence across the Swedish-Finnish defence community — through every phase of the procurement cycle.

Doors we have
opened.

A selection of engagements where we have connected companies to the right buyers, partners, and positions — in the Nordic-Baltic defence ecosystem and beyond.

Poland
New Type Submarines — Orka
Industry access · Campaign leadership
Led Saab Kockums' full campaign from initial stakeholder access through programme selection — building the industrial and political relationships that made the bid credible against strong international competition.
Sweden
Strategic Narrative & Brand Build
Market positioning · Brand development
Developed the communications platform, narrative, and market positioning for a Swedish defence company — strengthening its credibility and visibility across the domestic and export defence ecosystem.
Netherlands
Nordic/Baltic Market Access
Ecosystem access · Stakeholder mapping
Provided a UAV producer with a competitive landscape analysis and introduction pathway into Nordic and Baltic buyers — mapping the right primes, procurement contacts, and industrial partners.
Ukraine
Swedish Defence Industrial Integration
Industrial access · Partnership brokering
Built an introduction pathway into the Swedish defence industrial base — connecting the client to the right Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers, consortium partners, and programme stakeholders.
Singapore
New Corvette Programme
Stakeholder access · Campaign advisory
Strategic advisory for a major naval platform competition — navigating military, governmental, and industrial decision-makers and positioning the client's offer at the right levels of the procurement process.

Nordic insiders.
Complementary skills.

Three co-founders with deep roots in the Swedish and Finnish defence industry. Every engagement is led directly by one of us — no junior handoff, no intermediaries.

JH
Jason Howard
Industry access & procurement networks

25+ years across naval, land, airborne ISR, and C2 — including senior Saab roles across the Nordics, Europe, and North America. Directed the Orka submarine campaign in Poland from initial entry to selection. Personal networks across FMV, the Swedish Armed Forces, and the major Nordic primes.

BP
Benoit Passard
Brand, narrative & market position

30+ years in senior communications and corporate roles, rooted in Swedish industry. Central to the rebuild of Saab Kockums — where narrative and credibility proved decisive in a high-stakes programme. Dual Swedish-French national with deep experience shaping how defence companies are perceived by buyers, governments, and media in Sweden and across Europe.

JB
Jesper Brandt
Nordic network & business development

Former CEO of Miltton Group Sweden and King Street PR, with an exceptionally broad network across Swedish and Finnish industry, government, and defence. Turns relationships into commercial reality — structuring introductions, building brand equity, and creating the conditions for sustained presence in the Swedish-Finnish defence market.

Let's talk about
your position.

Whether you're looking to connect with the right buyers in Sweden and Finland, build your industrial presence, or sharpen your story for the Nordic market — we'd welcome a direct, confidential conversation.

jason.howard@newfrontone.se

www.northerndefenceinitiative.com  ·  Stockholm, Sweden