Finland requests the European Commission for 35 million euros for anti-drone systems

The Finnish government announced on Thursday that it will request an additional funding of 35 million euros from the European Commission for the acquisition of drone detection and neutralization systems, after three Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles crashed on Finnish territory at the end of March. The new systems will significantly enhance the country's ability to monitor the appearance of drones at the eastern border with Russia and in the Gulf of Finland, thus strengthening defense against these devices. The funding will come from the European Union's Financial Support Instrument for Border Management and Visa Policy (IBMF), covering 90% of the costs necessary for acquisition and technical training. The European Commission has launched a 250 million euro tender to support member states affected by increased border pressures, including through the acquisition of drones and anti-drone systems. Finland has previously received 17 million euros for drones resistant to Russian interference and 133 million euros for improving border surveillance, including the construction of a metal fence in vulnerable areas.