Finnish RPAS Program

The Finnish RPAS Program refers to Finland's national efforts to develop and integrate Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS/UAS) into its defense forces, driven by a new Drone Strategy from the Finnish Defence and Aviation Industry Association aiming for large-scale development by 2030, including a five-year national program for training, product development, testing, and legislation to position Finland as a global leader in drone technology. Its purpose is to enhance military capabilities for reconnaissance, counter-drone defense, and wartime operations amid Russian threats, with mandatory drone training for all conscripts since 2025, expansion of UAV fleets to nearly 1,000 FPV reconnaissance drones, and annual training of up to 500 drone pilots. Current status is in development and procurement, featuring purchases of hundreds of jammers, detectors, and sights, integration of tactical drone swarms by 2026, and early planning for a NATO RQ-4D reconnaissance drone base (decision post-2025); strategically, it bolsters NATO's eastern flank survivability, protects critical infrastructure, and counters hybrid threats along the 1,340 km Russian border.