Govt to seek EU funding for drone shield, buy howitzers from S. Korea

The Ministerial Committee on Economic Policy on Thursday decided that Finland would apply for EUR 35 million in additional funding from the European Commission’s Border Management and Visa Policy Instrument (BMVI).

The funding would be used by the Border Guard to procure drone detection and counter-drone systems, said a government press release.

The systems to be procured would significantly improve Finland’s ability to detect and monitor drones at the eastern border and in the Gulf of Finland.

The systems would also give Finland the ability to counteract drones. The procurements would be made primarily in 2027–2029.

The EU funding could be used for procuring equipment and systems, as well as for system integrations and training. The funding would cover 90 per cent of the costs.

The Commission’s call for proposals is targeted at Member States facing increased and complex pressures on border security, such as hostile or disruptive activities at external borders, instrumentalisation of migrants or hybrid threats.

The aim of the call is to help Member States improve their surveillance capabilities at external borders by acquiring unmanned aircraft (drone) systems and counter-drone systems. A total of EUR 250 million in funding has been made available.

Meanwhile, the Finnish Ministry of Defence and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA) on Thursday signed a government-to-government contract regarding the purchase of surplus K9 self-propelled howitzers, said the Ministry of Defence in a press release.

The procurement includes 112 pieces of surplus K9 self-propelled howitzers as well as related spare parts and special tools and test equipment.

The total value of the procurement is approximately 546,8 million euros.

The procurement will further enhance the Army’s firepower and its ability to support operational forces with long-range artillery systems that have good off-road and road mobility. The acquisition will partially replace aging towed artillery equipment.

Finland first acquired K9 self-propelled howitzers in 2017 through a government-to-government deal with the Republic of Korea’s agency KOTRA. In total, 96 K9 self-propelled howitzers have previously been procured.

The self-propelled howitzers will undergo national modifications in Finland before entering service. The K9 system’s maintenance and sustainment capability has already been established domestically in Finland with earlier acquisitions.