Finland’s Summa Defence establishes drone production facility with Ukrainian partners
Finland’s Summa Defence is to build a facility to manufacture uncrewed vehicles in Finland in collaboration with Ukrainian partners.
According to the company, the facility will increase production of drones for use in combat in Ukraine and widescale manufacture of aerial, ground and marine uncrewed systems is planned to start in the first half of 2025. Establishing a production base in Finland will help enhance the security of drone supply to Ukraine, Summa Defence added.
The Ukrainian companies in the joint venture are Kort, Elf Systems, Skyassist and MPS Development. Summa Defence also said it is also in negotiations to purchase several companies in the security and defence technology sector.
Related Articles
How Russia is ramping up efforts to counter drones in Ukraine
Netherlands commits €400 million into drones for Ukraine defence
Jussi Holopainen, CEO of Summa Defence, said: “The demand for drone technology and production capability is high. Drones will be delivered not only to Ukraine but also across the EU and NATO countries.
“Drones will become a permanent part of society, playing a vital role in securing critical societal functions across civilian, defence, and security sectors.
“The drones, which will become part of Summa Defence Group’s product portfolio through the joint venture, have already demonstrated their importance and strategic capabilities in Ukraine. Drones play a key role in protecting critical infrastructure and in emergency and rescue missions.”
Kyiv and Moscow have been competing to see who can harness the capabilities of AI and human-controlled drones since the conflict started.
More from Air Warfare
-
Data Link Solutions awarded a deal worth up to $1 billion for tactical radio systems
The deal announced on 11 December was an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity (ID/IQ) contract and the first task order of $116 million has already been awarded to provide terminals and spares, with follow-on production awards expected.
-
Slovakia eyes C-390 Millennium aircraft purchase in early 2025
The Slovak Ministry of Defence (MoD) also signed a Letter of Intent with the Brazilian MoD for deeper industrial collaboration between the two nations.
-
Kazakhstan welcomes its first A400M
The A400M was handed over at a ceremony in Almaty, after a flight from Airbus’ A400M Final Assembly Line in Seville, Spain.
-
Modified 757 aircraft planned to inform GCAP sensors and communications takes flight
The Boeing 757, dubbed Excalibur, was equipped with new side and belly pods and assessed for stability during flight. The aircraft will now undergo further engineering work at QinetiQ’s Boscombe Down facility in Wiltshire, England.
-
Elbit to deliver EW self-protection suites for a European country’s C-390 and H225M aircraft
The system to be installed includes a digital radar warning receiver, infra-red missile warning system, laser warning system, countermeasure dispenser system and DIRCM (Directed Infrared Countermeasure) system.
-
German Armed Forces’ H145s get L3Harris sensor system upgrade
L3Harris Technologies has provided its WESCAM MX-15D electro-optical/infrared sensor systems to the German Armed Forces’ new H145 helicopters.