Finland boosts counter-drone defenses amid concerns about Russia
Photo: Finnish Army service members (Getty Images)
Finland has purchased hundreds of drone jammers and detection systems as NATO’s eastern-flank countries step up their defenses, according to Reuters.
Colonel Mano-Mikael Nokelainen, Finland’s air-defense inspector, stated at the Niinisalo military base in the country’s southwest that Finland has purchased hundreds of SkyWiper Omni Max jammers produced by the Lithuanian company NT Service.
What Finland is acquiring
The jammers, which create a protective dome extending hundreds of meters and blocking control, video, and navigation signals, will be deployed around critical infrastructure, including military bases.
According to Nokelainen, the systems are essential for force protection since they prevent drones from operating over Finnish troops.
In addition to jammers, the military has purchased handheld Airfence drone detectors from Finnish company Sensofusion and additional Smash rifle sights from the Israeli firm Smartshooter to improve targeting and the ability to shoot down drones.
The new equipment is intended to counter small reconnaissance UAVs. Nokelainen did not disclose details regarding Finland’s ability to counter larger systems.
Finland maintains a fleet of nearly 1,000 reconnaissance drones, some manufactured in the United States and others by Finnish company Insta, and plans to train up to 500 new drone pilots each year, Lieutenant General Pasi Valimäki, commander of the Finnish Army, said.
Next year, the military intends to procure additional drones of various sizes and counter-UAV equipment. However, Valimäki noted that it makes little sense to stockpile too many systems that may quickly become obsolete given the rapid pace of technological development.
NATO countries intensify military preparation
On 30 November, Finland and the United Kingdom launched joint military exercises, Northern Axe 2025, in the town of Kuhmo, involving British troops and 600 units of equipment. The goal is to train forces in defensive, delaying, offensive, and night-combat operations in the challenging conditions of northern Finland.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, NATO members have significantly increased combat training.
In September, Poland conducted its largest exercise of 2025, Iron Defender-25, with around 30,000 troops from Poland and allied countries and more than 600 pieces of equipment.
