United to win: Finnish company develops anti-personnel drone for Ukraine

Finnish company Insta will present the Steel Eagle drone with an extended range at SecD Day, designed to destroy infantry. The drone was developed for Ukraine's armed forces together with Ukrainian specialists.

Yle reports this.

Insta is a company that creates high-tech solutions. It is a strategic partner of the Finnish Defense Forces.

The drone features a propeller designed by a Ukrainian partner, a radio control system, data transfer capabilities, and pilot goggles. These goggles offer a "first-person" mode, letting the user see from the drone's perspective.

Finland has developed an explosive charge that fires steel and tungsten bullets. Tungsten, a rugged metal formerly used to make filaments for incandescent lamps, boasts the highest melting and boiling points among chemical elements. Today, it serves as a key raw material in the defense industry.

The bullets can penetrate the roof of a standard or lightly armored vehicle from a height of several dozen meters. Essentially, the drone's charge is designed to target infantry. In an area the size of a football field, three drones equipped with these charges could be enough to kill or injure the soldiers present.

The new device has an extensive range and is resistant to interference.

According to the Finnish Defense and Aerospace Industry Association, more than 10 defense companies in the country, in addition to Insta, directly cooperate with Ukrainian companies.

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A factory for manufacturing drones will be established in Finland. It will meet the demands for UAVs in Ukraine and the European Union.

On November 12, Ukraine and Finland signed a Framework Agreement between the Government of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Finland on projects financed under the Finnish-Ukrainian Investment Fund (FUIF) program.

Within the framework of the Agreement, loans of up to 50 million euros are planned for 2025. Further implementation of the Program will involve concluding relevant loan agreements to determine the volume, terms, and conditions of loans.

Ukraine also proposed to Sweden and Finland that it support the Ukrainian defense-industrial complex by directly financing manufacturers, following the example of the "Danish model."

In addition, Ukraine and Finland jointly created the Civil Protection Coalition to develop a system of modern shelters.

Moreover, Finland also announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth 118 million euros in September.