Finland to open drone countermeasure testing site in Jämsä this autumn

A new test facility for uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) and counter-UAS technologies will open at Halli Airport in Jämsä as early as this autumn, according to a report by Finnish public broadcaster Yle.

The site will allow companies, authorities, and research institutions to develop and test drone detection and mitigation methods—without using live fire. “Nothing will be shot down here,” said project manager Marja Salonen of Jämsä city. Instead, the focus will be on techniques to disrupt, redirect, or safely capture drones.

Testing will take place in a controlled airspace approved by Finland’s transport and communications agency Traficom, with permits defining altitude limits and maximum device weights. The application for operational approval is expected to be submitted before Midsummer, with initial trials potentially beginning in autumn 2026.

The facility leverages Halli Airport’s existing infrastructure, including air traffic control, and offers varied terrain—water, forest, and rocky areas—as well as challenging weather conditions like freezing rain and darkness. “Freezing drizzle, sleet, and prolonged darkness can be critical factors in product development,” Salonen noted.

Funded with €700,000 (of which Jämsä covers roughly one-third), the project aims to strengthen Halli’s position as an aviation technology hub and create local jobs. Public funding will cover operational costs through 2027, meaning no fees for users during that period.

Nearby defence technology firm Sensofusion, which specialises in drone countermeasures and recently acquired Halli’s aircraft factory, plans to use the site to test uncrewed surveillance aircraft. “We need this kind of closed airspace and test platform,” said Anssi Rekula, Sensofusion’s aviation director. The company’s hangar lies just 250 metres from the airport.

Future expansion could link the Jämsä site to Tampere-Teisko Airport, 40 kilometres away, enabling longer test flights. “An air corridor to Teisko would allow hundreds or thousands of takeoffs and landings,” Rekula added.

Interest in the facility is high, with daily inquiries from startups seeking to test hardware or software solutions. While defence industry firm Patria declined to comment on potential use, it praised Jämsä’s proactive development efforts.