Finnish defence firm begins production of drone-countering surveillance aircraft

Finnish defence technology company Sensofusion has started manufacturing surveillance aircraft designed to counter drones at its newly acquired factory in Jämsä, central Finland, the company announced Wednesday.

The aircraft combines a modified airframe with Sensofusion’s own intelligence-gathering systems, including radio signal detection, radar, and drone-jamming capabilities. The company describes it as a cost-effective alternative to existing surveillance platforms like AWACS systems.

A prototype is set for test flights in the coming days, with production expected to create around ten new jobs in Jämsä. The aircraft is intended for global markets, according to Anssi Rekula, Sensofusion’s aviation director.

The system can operate as either a manned general aviation aircraft or an unmanned system, allowing it to fly in civilian airspace near airports and populated areas without special exemptions—a key advantage over purely unmanned drones.

Two new aircraft are already under assembly at the Jämsä Halli facility, a repurposed sports hall on a former military base. Rekula, who has run the factory for five years, said the Sensofusion acquisition secures local jobs after years of financial struggles.

Beyond surveillance aircraft, Sensofusion is developing its first satellite, Fennec-1, set for launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon rocket in autumn 2027. The satellite will test the company’s ability to detect weak ground-based signals from orbit, with a second satellite, Fennec-2, also planned.