News: KT-Shelter Named Company of the Year in South Karelia, Finland
09.03.2026 | KT-Shelter has been selected as Company of the Year in South Karelia, recognising sustained growth, responsible leadership and regional impact. The award marks an important milestone in KT-Shelter’s development from a specialised engineering initiative into an internationally operating defence and security technology company.
Founded in 2013 to address the need for rapidly deployable aircraft protection, KT-Shelter today delivers mobile shelter systems supporting helicopters, fighter aircraft and large UAV operations worldwide.
In recent years, the company has experienced strong growth as demand for resilient and flexible infrastructure solutions has increased in response to a changing security environment.
“This recognition means a great deal to our entire team. Our success is built on a highly dedicated and experienced team, a world-class product, and strong long-term relationships with our customers.” says Tommi Kasanen, CEO of KT-Shelter.
Built for Operational Reliability
As investment in defence readiness accelerates across Europe and beyond, KT-Shelter’s solutions provide mission continuity where permanent infrastructure is not available, supporting both tactical operations and field Maintenance, Repair and Operation (MRO).
“The defence industry exists to build such strong capability that conflict can be deterred before it begins,” Kasanen states.
For KT-Shelter, the recognition is not only about growth figures but about fulfilling its responsibility within a changing security environment — supporting operational resilience and protecting critical air assets in demanding conditions.
Regional Roots, Global Reach
While operating internationally, KT-Shelter remains firmly rooted in South Karelia. Its assembly centre in Lappeenranta forms the core of operations, supported by offices in Helsinki and Kuopio. The regional engineering ecosystem and partner network have been central to the company’s growth.
“A company must be built step by step. The vision grows along the way,” Kasanen says.
Being named Company of the Year reinforces KT-Shelter’s commitment to disciplined development, long-term partnerships and strong local foundations alongside global expansion.
The recognition represents a milestone — not a destination. The company continues to invest in scalable structures, operational capability and technological leadership to meet the evolving needs of defence and security markets.
Read more from Etelä-Karjalan Yrittäjät (directing to Finnish article) >