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Finland Proposes Hosting a NATO Reconnaissance Drone Base on Its Territory

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Finland has proposed establishing a NATO reconnaissance drone base on its soil, according to Finnish media.

Finland's public broadcasting news portal Yle.fi reports that out of the four air bases the Finnish Air Force operates, Pirkkala has been identified as the most suitable location for the proposed intelligence center. Pirkkala is located in southern Finland, near the city of Tampere, which is the third-largest city in the country.

The base’s location and existing infrastructure make it an ideal site for housing NATO’s larger reconnaissance drones. These aircraft could conduct continuous surveillance along Finland’s eastern border.

NATO could deploy various types of advanced reconnaissance drones, specifically adapted for use in Nordic conditions and for monitoring areas near the Russian border.

Among these systems, a likely candidate is the U.S. Air Force’s RQ-4 Global Hawk—a strategic drone designed for long-range, high-altitude missions, capable of providing constant coverage and collecting critical intelligence on military movements.

Reconnaissance drone RQ-4 Global Hawk.
Reconnaissance drone RQ-4 Global Hawk. Photo: Northrop Grumman

Another potential system is the MQ-9 Reaper, known for its versatile intelligence capabilities and operational flexibility. It is well-suited not only for reconnaissance missions but also for armed support missions, if necessary.

MQ-9 reaper.
MQ-9 reaper. Photo: General Atomics

For close-range reconnaissance, lighter drones such as the ScanEagle or RQ-21 Blackjack could serve as valuable additions. These systems specialize in short-range intelligence, providing detailed insights into critical areas.

Currently, NATO reconnaissance drones based in Italy regularly conduct missions over Finnish airspace. In August, the U.S. Air Force’s RQ-4 Global Hawk carried out a surveillance flight in Finland, flying along border regions and conducting observation missions over Murmansk in Russia.

The strategic drone performed several loops in the area to gather crucial intelligence. Following this mission, the United States enhanced its surveillance efforts with a manned reconnaissance aircraft, the RC-135U Combat Sent, specifically designed for advanced intelligence missions. This aircraft provides additional data on military movements near the border.

Discussions regarding the establishment of a drone base in Finland are still in their early stages. However, the proposal underscores Finland’s willingness to collaborate more closely with NATO in monitoring its eastern border, an area that has gained increased attention amid rising tensions with Russia.

Drone named Scaneagle by Boeing.
Drone named Scaneagle by Boeing. Photo: Boeing

According to the project timeline, a final decision regarding the establishment of the drone base is expected within the next year. If the base is constructed in Finland, it would significantly enhance NATO's intelligence-gathering capabilities in Northern Europe, allowing for increased monitoring of military movements along the Finnish-Russian border.

Additionally, NATO recently announced that the headquarters for the Northern European land forces (MCLCC) will be located in Mikkeli, Finland. This decision, confirmed on September 27, is justified by the presence of the Finnish Army Command in the same city, facilitating cooperation between Finnish and NATO defense forces.

The presence of both the reconnaissance drone base and the regional headquarters in Finland could transform the country into a strategic center for intelligence gathering and military coordination in Northern Europe. The final decision on the drone base's location is expected next year, with the headquarters in Mikkeli set to become operational.

Finnish proposal comes amid growing navigation problems faced in the region and caused by Russia's signal interference. In the spring of 2024, navigation problems began affecting civilian aircrafts also in the Baltic States. The number of flights encountering issues due to electronic warfare systems reached into the hundreds.

Russian interference had previously caused disruptions in air traffic between Helsinki and Tartu, until Estonia upgraded its airport navigation systems.

In September, the Estonian Air Force confirmed that a U.S. RQ-4B Global Hawk drone encountered signal interference in Estonian airspace on August 30. The drone landed safely despite the disruption.

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