Exclusive Report: Finnish Army Trains with Helicopter Gunships to Counter Drones Inspired by Ukraine War
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On May 18, 2025, Finland conducted a live military exercise showcasing the use of helicopter-mounted machine guns to intercept hostile drones, drawing directly on combat-proven tactics from Ukraine. This was part of the MalletStrike125 training initiative. The Finnish Land Forces released footage confirming the deployment of NH90 helicopters from the Utti Jaeger Regiment, engaging unmanned aerial threats using M134 Miniguns and FN Minimi 249s. Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Finland’s decision to test helicopter-mounted machine guns for drone interception during MalletStrike125 reveals a proactive and calculated adaptation to the lessons of modern warfare (Picture Source: Finnish Utti Jaeger Regiment)
The drills demonstrate how NATO-bordering nations are actively adopting lessons from Ukraine’s battlefield to enhance air defense strategies. Against a backdrop of renewed Russian military activity near the Finnish frontier, these exercises reflect a shift in tactical thinking and budgetary planning regarding how to neutralize low-cost drone threats without expending high-value munitions. With drone warfare emerging as a central feature of modern conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, the Finnish Army’s decision to integrate helicopter-based aerial interdiction offers an important case study in adaptive warfare. Not only does it highlight operational flexibility, but it also signals a recalibration of force posture in the Nordic region, especially at a time when Russia is reactivating Cold War-era bases near the Finnish border as previously reported by Army Recognition. This initiative is a strategic maneuver in the broader context of NATO’s northern deterrence posture and reflects a growing military emphasis on mobility, responsiveness, and cost-efficiency in counter-drone operations.
Finland’s MalletStrike125 exercise directly reflects tactical evolutions inspired by Ukraine’s response to the Shahed drone threat. Ukrainian forces have frequently deployed rotary-wing aircraft, such as MI-28 helicopters, to physically engage and destroy incoming kamikaze UAVs launched by Russian forces. These encounters have demonstrated that drones, while often difficult to detect and intercept with conventional radar and missile systems, can be effectively neutralized through more agile and direct means. Finland’s move to replicate this tactic indicates that the helicopter is regaining importance in air defense roles beyond traditional troop transport and reconnaissance.
Historically, helicopter-based aerial defense operations were rare, largely due to the risk posed by using slow-moving rotorcraft in contested airspace. However, instances during the Cold War and in conflicts such as the Vietnam War and the Soviet-Afghan War showed helicopters being used creatively for ground attack and suppression missions. The new Finnish approach echoes these past innovations, adapting them to the unique challenges of drone warfare. In low-intensity or hybrid conflict scenarios, where the adversary deploys small UAVs for surveillance or kamikaze attacks, machine gun fire from helicopters could provide a fast, flexible, and scalable response.
Geopolitically, this development is particularly significant for Finland, which shares a long border with Russia and joined NATO in 2023. As reported by Army Recognition, the recent satellite imagery has shown increased Russian military presence in regions close to Finland, including Kamenka and Petrozavodsk, as well as heightened activity at Severomorsk-2 and Olenya airfields. The visible buildup and reactivation of Soviet-era infrastructure suggest that Moscow is reinforcing its northern flank, raising the stakes for Finnish and NATO planners. In this environment, the ability to rapidly deploy helicopters to intercept drones represents not just a tactical enhancement, but also a strategic signal of readiness and adaptability.
From a military standpoint, helicopter-mounted counter-drone operations fill a critical niche in the layered air defense architecture. While missile systems like NASAMS and IRIS-T are highly effective, they are also costly and may be reserved for higher-value targets. Using helicopters with Miniguns and light machine guns such as the FN Minimi 249 offers a more sustainable solution for engaging swarms or individual drones. This layered approach increases the flexibility of response and preserves high-value interceptors for more serious threats.
Budgetarily, this approach appears to align with Finland’s pragmatic defense planning. Missiles used in most air defense systems can cost tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of euros per shot. By contrast, operating a helicopter for a short engagement, using kinetic energy weapons with relatively cheap ammunition, is far more economical. In a prolonged conflict or during repeated drone incursions, cost-per-kill becomes a critical metric. The use of helicopters provides Finland with a lower-cost alternative that enhances resilience and preserves critical munitions stockpiles.
Finland’s decision to test helicopter-mounted machine guns for drone interception during MalletStrike125 reveals a proactive and calculated adaptation to the lessons of modern warfare. Drawing from Ukraine’s experience, the Finnish military is not merely reacting to threats but building a new operational model for air defense that is cost-effective, rapid, and tactically flexible. As Russia continues to reassert its presence near Finland’s borders, such measures reinforce national resilience and contribute to the deterrent posture of NATO’s northern flank. The message is clear: Finland is prepared to innovate and defend its airspace using every tool at its disposal, blending old-school firepower with new-age urgency.
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On May 18, 2025, Finland conducted a live military exercise showcasing the use of helicopter-mounted machine guns to intercept hostile drones, drawing directly on combat-proven tactics from Ukraine. This was part of the MalletStrike125 training initiative. The Finnish Land Forces released footage confirming the deployment of NH90 helicopters from the Utti Jaeger Regiment, engaging unmanned aerial threats using M134 Miniguns and FN Minimi 249s.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
Finland’s decision to test helicopter-mounted machine guns for drone interception during MalletStrike125 reveals a proactive and calculated adaptation to the lessons of modern warfare (Picture Source: Finnish Utti Jaeger Regiment)
The drills demonstrate how NATO-bordering nations are actively adopting lessons from Ukraine’s battlefield to enhance air defense strategies. Against a backdrop of renewed Russian military activity near the Finnish frontier, these exercises reflect a shift in tactical thinking and budgetary planning regarding how to neutralize low-cost drone threats without expending high-value munitions.
With drone warfare emerging as a central feature of modern conflicts, particularly in Ukraine, the Finnish Army’s decision to integrate helicopter-based aerial interdiction offers an important case study in adaptive warfare. Not only does it highlight operational flexibility, but it also signals a recalibration of force posture in the Nordic region, especially at a time when Russia is reactivating Cold War-era bases near the Finnish border as previously reported by Army Recognition. This initiative is a strategic maneuver in the broader context of NATO’s northern deterrence posture and reflects a growing military emphasis on mobility, responsiveness, and cost-efficiency in counter-drone operations.
Finland’s MalletStrike125 exercise directly reflects tactical evolutions inspired by Ukraine’s response to the Shahed drone threat. Ukrainian forces have frequently deployed rotary-wing aircraft, such as MI-28 helicopters, to physically engage and destroy incoming kamikaze UAVs launched by Russian forces. These encounters have demonstrated that drones, while often difficult to detect and intercept with conventional radar and missile systems, can be effectively neutralized through more agile and direct means. Finland’s move to replicate this tactic indicates that the helicopter is regaining importance in air defense roles beyond traditional troop transport and reconnaissance.
Historically, helicopter-based aerial defense operations were rare, largely due to the risk posed by using slow-moving rotorcraft in contested airspace. However, instances during the Cold War and in conflicts such as the Vietnam War and the Soviet-Afghan War showed helicopters being used creatively for ground attack and suppression missions. The new Finnish approach echoes these past innovations, adapting them to the unique challenges of drone warfare. In low-intensity or hybrid conflict scenarios, where the adversary deploys small UAVs for surveillance or kamikaze attacks, machine gun fire from helicopters could provide a fast, flexible, and scalable response.
Geopolitically, this development is particularly significant for Finland, which shares a long border with Russia and joined NATO in 2023. As reported by Army Recognition, the recent satellite imagery has shown increased Russian military presence in regions close to Finland, including Kamenka and Petrozavodsk, as well as heightened activity at Severomorsk-2 and Olenya airfields. The visible buildup and reactivation of Soviet-era infrastructure suggest that Moscow is reinforcing its northern flank, raising the stakes for Finnish and NATO planners. In this environment, the ability to rapidly deploy helicopters to intercept drones represents not just a tactical enhancement, but also a strategic signal of readiness and adaptability.
From a military standpoint, helicopter-mounted counter-drone operations fill a critical niche in the layered air defense architecture. While missile systems like NASAMS and IRIS-T are highly effective, they are also costly and may be reserved for higher-value targets. Using helicopters with Miniguns and light machine guns such as the FN Minimi 249 offers a more sustainable solution for engaging swarms or individual drones. This layered approach increases the flexibility of response and preserves high-value interceptors for more serious threats.
Budgetarily, this approach appears to align with Finland’s pragmatic defense planning. Missiles used in most air defense systems can cost tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands, of euros per shot. By contrast, operating a helicopter for a short engagement, using kinetic energy weapons with relatively cheap ammunition, is far more economical. In a prolonged conflict or during repeated drone incursions, cost-per-kill becomes a critical metric. The use of helicopters provides Finland with a lower-cost alternative that enhances resilience and preserves critical munitions stockpiles.
Finland’s decision to test helicopter-mounted machine guns for drone interception during MalletStrike125 reveals a proactive and calculated adaptation to the lessons of modern warfare. Drawing from Ukraine’s experience, the Finnish military is not merely reacting to threats but building a new operational model for air defense that is cost-effective, rapid, and tactically flexible. As Russia continues to reassert its presence near Finland’s borders, such measures reinforce national resilience and contribute to the deterrent posture of NATO’s northern flank. The message is clear: Finland is prepared to innovate and defend its airspace using every tool at its disposal, blending old-school firepower with new-age urgency.
