Finland seeks new drone detection systems

Finland is planning on acquiring new counter-drone detection capabilities to help monitor its borders and the Gulf of Finland.

Primarily, the procurement will be funded by the EU as part of a programme to help member states improve their border surveillance capabilities, according to the Finnish government on 9 April.

A total of EUR35 million is being requested by the government under the EU's Border Management and Visa Instrument, which has earmarked EUR250 million for member states to acquire uncrewed systems and other countermeasures.

Recent high-profile drone incursions, including those over major airports and within Polish and Latvian territory, have highlighted a growing threat to European airspace. Having adequate countermeasures to detect and counter these systems is therefore increasingly vital.

A new action plan

This new EU funding instrument that Finland is benefiting from is part of a slew of initiatives unveiled by the EU aimed at promoting border security and countering the threat from drones.  

This includes the  ‘Action Plan on Drone and Counter Drone Security’, launched in February, which focuses on enhancing preparedness, boosting detection capacities, and strengthening the EU's defence readiness.

The main actions in the plan include:

• Investment to scale up the production of drones and counter-drone systems
• A Drone Security Package, due to be published this year, to improve identification and registration of civilian drones
• Risk assessments to avoid high-risk suppliers with a view to develop a drone and counter-drone security toolbox
• An ‘EU trusted’ drone label to identify secure equipment on the market
• A new drone and counter-drone industrial forum, bringing together civil and defence stakeholders and providers of technologies
• An EU counter-drone centre of excellence to boost testing capacities

Regarding the EU border funding instrument, Finland is yet to determine the quantity or type of units it will acquire, as a formal request has not been submitted to the EU yet, a spokesperson told DSEI Gateway.  

However, Finland has previously benefited from the EU Border Management and Visa Instrument, the spokesperson continued, having initially received EUR78 million to acquire border protection capabilities.

The country has also received funding for “the implementation of the EU Pact on Migration and Asylum” to enhance the border surveillance capacity at the eastern border. It also helped fund the acquisition of UAS and supported the interoperability of the EU large-scale IT systems and Smart Borders, the spokesperson added.