Finland is changing its military training in response to the threat posed by drones
Finland is revamping its military training program in response to the rapidly growing threat posed by drones. Starting next year, conscripts will begin training on anti-drone systems.
Initially, career military personnel will test the new equipment and training methods. The Finnish Army says these systems are easy to use, and their effectiveness has already been proven in modern conflicts.
The Finnish Defense Forces are launching a new phase of military training. The training program will include the use of anti-drone systems. According to military officials, the decision was made due to the rapid proliferation of drones on the battlefield and the continuous improvement of such technologies. Initially, professional soldiers will test the new systems as early as this fall. After that, in 2027, conscripts will also undergo the relevant training.
Special units will be formed
Colonel Mano-Mikael Nokelainen, Inspector of Air Defense, stated that the new equipment will be provided, in particular, to specialized anti-drone defense batteries currently being formed within the Finnish Army. According to him, the use of such systems will become a routine part of military service.
The Finnish Defense Forces emphasize that modern anti-drone systems are easy to master and significantly cheaper than many traditional air defense systems.
The technology war continues
Mikko Hyppönen, head of research at Sensofusion—a company specializing in drone defense systems—noted that the development of drones and countermeasures is proceeding at an extremely rapid pace.
According to him, drone manufacturers and defense system developers are essentially in a constant race against each other. “It’s a game of cat and mouse,” said Hyppönen. He also warned that the world may soon face a new phase in the development of this technology. “It’s only a matter of time before drones, using artificial intelligence, begin to make life-and-death decisions on their own,” the expert noted.
Finland is taking into account the lessons of modern warfare
The Finnish military emphasizes that the experience of recent wars has shown that drones have become one of the key elements of the modern battlefield. That is why military training must evolve rapidly to meet new challenges.
Training in the use of anti-drone systems is intended to help future service members defend themselves more effectively against aerial threats and operate in environments where drones are increasingly used for reconnaissance and attacks. This was reported by Yle.
On the morning of July 10, the Finnish Armed Forces temporarily restricted the use of air and maritime space near the city of Kotka, located on the coast of the Gulf of Finland. The restriction was prompted by reports of a possible drone incursion into the country’s airspace.
