Finland unveils first underground combat bunker to counter drone threats

Finland’s Defence Forces have constructed the country’s first underground combat bunker system in Niinisalo, designed to shield soldiers from drone attacks, reports Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The reinforced bunker network, built by the Pori Brigade, includes three kilometres of trenches—half of them underground—with sleeping quarters, storage, and fortified passageways. The facility, operational since January, marks a shift in military infrastructure to address modern battlefield threats.

Conscripts training in the bunker describe the confined spaces as challenging but effective. “Those with claustrophobia may need time to adjust,” said Lieutenant Julius Rosendahl, deputy commander of the Jaeger Company. Underground, soldiers lose their sense of direction and distance, he noted, but the bunkers provide critical protection against aerial drones.

The bunkers feature five underground shelters, each accommodating 10–12 soldiers on wooden bunk beds. Rosendahl, who tested the sleeping arrangements, confirmed they were functional despite their spartan design. The temperature underground remains stable, often warmer than surface conditions in winter.

The Pori Brigade will use feedback from Niinisalo to refine a second, identical bunker system under construction in Säkylä, set for completion in May. The project reflects Finland’s adaptation to drone warfare, which has reshaped frontline tactics.

Conscripts praised the bunker training as a welcome change from traditional forest exercises. “It’s a refreshing challenge,” one recruit said in an interview with Yle.