Finland will receive €32 million from the European Union to buy drone surveillance and counter-drone systems for the Finnish Border Guard. The funding was secured in October, the Ministry of the Interior said on 15 October.
The money comes from the EU’s Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI). According to the ministry, the systems will significantly improve Finland’s ability to monitor drones on its eastern border and in the Gulf of Finland. They will also lay the groundwork for countering drones.
Most of the procurements will take place in 2027–2029. The funding can be used for equipment and systems, system integration and training.
The Commission aimed the funding at member states facing growing pressure on their external borders. The ministry gives hostile or disruptive activity as examples, such as the instrumentalisation of migration and other hybrid threats.
The Finnish government had earlier decided to seek additional funding for drone detection and counter-drone capabilities.