Finland has put forth a proposal to host a NATO reconnaissance drone base on its territory, a move that underscores the growing security concerns in Northern Europe since the start of the Ukraine war.
NATO’s plans for establishing a new reconnaissance base in Northern Europe are still in preliminary stages. However, officials within the Alliance acknowledge the strategic value of a dedicated regional drone facility, aiming to enhance real-time intelligence gathering, Finnish Public Service Media Company Yle reported.
The Finnish Air Force has proposed four possible sites for the base, with Pirkkala emerging as the most probable location.
Currently, NATO reconnaissance drones operate out of Italy but conduct frequent missions over Finnish airspace to monitor activity along Finland’s eastern border.
If Finland’s proposal is approved, NATO would have the flexibility to deploy a range of advanced reconnaissance drones designed to endure Nordic weather conditions and to operate effectively near Russian territory.
Among the potential options is the US Air Force’s RQ-4 Global Hawk, a highly capable long-endurance drone already active in Finnish airspace.
On September 13, 2023, a NATO RQ-4D “Phoenix” surveillance drone completed its inaugural mission over Finland, gathering crucial data to support Alliance deterrence efforts.
The Phoenix, one of the world’s most advanced reconnaissance drones, offers NATO a powerful tool for conducting intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions across expansive areas.
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It can operate at high altitudes over NATO territories and in international airspace, transmitting collected data back to Alliance members to enhance collective defense strategies.
Since 2022, NATO’s fleet of Alliance Ground Surveillance (AGS) drones, which are based in Sigonella, Italy, has conducted numerous missions along NATO’s eastern flank, particularly in the Black Sea region.
The final decision on the Finnish drone base location is anticipated by next year. This potential base reflects NATO’s concerted effort to increase its surveillance capabilities along its East European borders.
As reported by Helsinki Sanomat, NATO intelligence flights can gather signal intelligence up to 500 kilometers within Russian territory. When conducted east of Kajaani, Finland, these flights can monitor areas as far as Severodvinsk and Nenoksa in Russia’s Arkhangelsk region near the White Sea.
Kremlin Calls For Verification
Following reports suggesting Finland’s consideration of hosting a NATO drone base, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov has called for these media claims to be verified.
He highlighted Finland’s past assurances, made when joining NATO, that it would not place military infrastructure close to Russia’s borders, implying that such a base would constitute a shift in Finland’s stance.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that any deployment of NATO military infrastructure on Finnish soil would prompt a reciprocal response from Moscow.
Since joining NATO last year, Finland has shifted away from its long-standing neutrality, a move motivated by Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Sharing an extensive 1,340-kilometer (830-mile) border with Russia, Finland has continued to strengthen its security ties with NATO.
Finland’s actions to strengthen its national security are drawing serious attention from Moscow. In September, Finland’s Defense Ministry announced plans to establish a NATO base less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) from its eastern border with Russia.
According to Finnish officials, this location serves as a pointed message to Russia about Finland’s strong alliance with NATO. NATO’s Northern European land command unit headquarters is slated for the southeastern city of Mikkeli, as confirmed by Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen.
Furthermore, NATO defense ministers approved Finland’s proposal to host the Multi Corps Land Component Command and the Forward Land Forces during a June meeting.
These decisions underscore Finland’s integration into NATO’s defense framework, marking the country as a strategic NATO outpost in Northern Europe.
With the potential establishment of both a reconnaissance drone base and a NATO command headquarters, Finland would become a key hub for intelligence and defense coordination in the region.
These developments would enable NATO to enhance its surveillance capabilities across Northern and Eastern Europe and bolster its response to potential security challenges posed by Russia in the Baltic and broader northern areas.
Meanwhile, in December 2023, Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu revealed plans to increase Russian troop deployments near Finland’s border following Finland’s announcement of its NATO membership.
Shoigu cited NATO’s intent to expand its military presence along Russian borders and the alliance’s enlargement to include Finland and Sweden as reasons for more troop deployments near Finland’s border.
He pointed out that “retaliatory measures are required to create an appropriate grouping of troops in Northwest Russia” in response to NATO’s growing military potential near Russia.
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