Finnish air force conducts drone defence drills near Russian border

The Finnish air force will carry out drone countermeasure exercises on Wednesday and Thursday in southeastern Finland, including parts of Kymenlaakso, South Karelia, and the eastern Gulf of Finland, state broadcaster Yle reports.

F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets will simulate intercepting drones, with Finnish army MD500 helicopters acting as low-flying drone substitutes during the drills. No live ammunition will be used, though the exercises will include target identification and neutralisation training alongside NH90 helicopters and a navy standby vessel.

Civilian drone operations and general air traffic will face restrictions in designated zones along the coast and inland. Updated flight restriction maps are available via Fintraffic’s aeronautical information service and the Fintraffic Sky portal.

The drills follow recent incidents in the region, including four stray drones discovered in Kouvola, Iitti, Luumäki, and Parikkala in late March and early April. One device in Iitti required controlled detonation due to explosive contents, while a suspected drone sighting in Uusimaa mid-May prompted a public safety alert.

The air force emphasised that this week’s exercises are separate from two concurrent large-scale military drills in southeast Finland, where around 13,000 army and navy personnel are training until Friday.