Image source: topwar.ru
In June, the North Atlantic Alliance will conduct the first test launches of RQ-4D Phoenix strategic reconnaissance drones from the Finnish Pirkkala airbase. According to sources from the local Yle television and radio company, the test flights will last several weeks, and the necessary infrastructure is currently being completed at the base.
The article says that the use of Finnish territory opens up new opportunities for NATO to monitor the northern regions, including the waters of the Norwegian Sea. American drones, capable of staying in the air for more than 30 hours and traveling up to 16,000 kilometers, were previously based exclusively in Italian Sicily.
Since the fall of 2023, they have periodically appeared in Finnish airspace, but now the alliance is considering the possibility of establishing a permanent operating base in Pirkkala.
Image Source: topwar.ru
However, it is reported that the final decision regarding this facility has not yet been made.
It is worth noting that Finland, which became a member of NATO in April 2023, is actively offering its infrastructure for the needs of the alliance. According to experts, Pirkkala, located in the south-west of the country, is considered the best place to deploy an unmanned group due to its well-developed logistics and advantageous geographical location. Norway and Poland are also showing interest in the project.
In turn, a number of analysts note that regular flights of the RQ-4D Phoenix near the borders of Russia may lead to further escalation of tensions in the Baltic Sea region. Moreover, immediately after Finland and Sweden joined NATO, the Russian authorities announced plans to strengthen the grouping of troops in the north-west of the country.
