This article explores the potential and constraints of using satellite navigation systems to improve logistic and supplementary services within the Finnish Defense Forces. It highlights the growing reliance on space domain data for maintaining critical societal functions, with a focus on location and communication capabilities essential for modern military operations. The theoretical framework is derived from general systems theory, where the influence of interdependent or interconnected parts of a whole is studied. This article discusses the significant role of satellite-derived information in military contexts. It also illustrates how European Union directives mandate the protection of critical infrastructure, emphasizing the strategic integration of space domain capabilities into national defense planning. It examines the collaboration between public defense entities and private sector logistics, acknowledging the vulnerabilities such sectors may face during hostile actions. Through empirical research involving three case studies, the efficiency of logistic operations is evaluated using transaction cost analysis, comparing variables linked to financial efficiency and examining transaction drivers. The results reveal that while technical solutions alone are insufficient for developing last kilometer transport and the tooth-to-tail ratio, the utility of autonomous transport systems in military logistics remains limited under the conditions studied. The findings indicate that improvements in the last kilometer transport and the “tooth-to-tail” ratio cannot rely solely on technological solutions. Furthermore, the advantages of the autonomous transport system demonstrated in this study are notably limited.
Häyhtiö et al. (Sat,) studied this question.