Helsinki turns to EU for funding to strengthen anti-drone defences

Finland has formally requested €35 million in additional funding from the European Commission to strengthen its defences against drones, the country’s Ministry of the Interior said in a statement.

The application was approved on April 9 by the ministerial committee on economic policy. The funding is intended for the procurement of advanced surveillance and counter-drone systems, with the bulk of deliveries expected between 2027 and 2029.

Helsinki submitted the request under a European Union financial instrument designed to support border security and visa policy measures. Officials say the planned acquisitions will significantly enhance the Finnish Border Guard’s ability to detect, track, and respond to drone activity along the country’s eastern frontier and in the Gulf of Finland.

By Vafa Guliyeva