Counter-UAS innovations tested in Finland

Layered Counter-UAS Initiative, known as LCI-X, is a NATO Allied Command Transformation (ACT) initiative that enhances the Alliance's capability to respond to a rapidly evolving UAS threat. A series of LCI-X-related testing events are carried out in Finland in four towns: Riihimäki, Turku, Oulu and Joensuu. The events take place on 1-10 June 2026, and their purpose is to test innovative solutions for detecting and destroying UAS and for the next generation communications and data transfer.

The series of testing events is led by ACT, and their practical implementation is taken over by Digital Defence Ecosystem (DDE), a network of Finnish defence and technology companies and research institutes; Defence Innovation Network (DEFINE), a Finnish defence and security innovation network; Borderland Europe Project as well as Business Joensuu, Business Oulu and Business Turku. The authority responsible for the test events in Finland is the Ministry of Defence.

The Finnish Defence Forces' role is to provide operational expertise. The Defence Forces specifies the scenarios and situations for the testing so that the experiments meet military needs and match the current challenges. The Defence Forces is also present in the testing, observing the experiments on-site and assessing the usability of different solutions.

Development and innovation are pursued both within NATO and within national networks. International experiments and their results feed into the Defence Forces' innovation activity, which involves extensive cooperation with businesses, research agencies and other actors, enabling rapid assessment and further development of the most promising solutions.

Innovations are becoming more and more important for warfare. Technological developments, rapid changes in the operating environments and recent experiences from war have made it clear that even the smallest technological edge can have a major impact. The Defence Forces has recently invested in innovation, having started to coordinate its innovation activity at the beginning of 2026. This effort brings together needs and those with the skills to answer to them, enabling agile experimentation and implementation of the most promising technologies.

The new innovation scheme complements traditional long-term capability building by offering a fast track for evaluating new technologies. International test events, such as LCI-X, are an important part of this scheme. They bring together multinational efforts and skills, offering a realistic testing opportunity.

Further reading:

The Defence Forces' coordinated innovation activities: The Finnish Defence Forces initiated coordinated innovation activities

ACT Layered Counter-UAS Initiative: Layered Counter-UAS Initiative - NATO's ACTLink to an external website

_{NATO Allied Command Transformation, ACT, is responsible for the strategic development of the Alliance.}