OULU, Finland – VTT Technical Research Centre in Otaniemi, Espoo, is using a large test site in Northern Finland to evaluate drone performance across long distances and harsh operating conditions.
The site spans more than 3,500 square kilometers and supports operations across land, water, and air. Notably, a newly expanded corridor allows flights beyond visual line of sight over distances up to 150 kilometers. That setup gives developers room to evaluate navigation, endurance, and communications over changing terrain, rather than relying on controlled environments.
Seasonal variation plays a key role. Cold temperatures and moisture expose weaknesses in batteries, electronics, and materials, helping teams detect failure points before deployment.
The location also supports multi-aircraft operations. Engineers can fly multiple drones at once to evaluate coordination, autonomy, and traffic management under real-world conditions.
Related: Army awards $15.3 million contract to Performance Drone Works for modular small UAS ISR systems
Tracking and next-phase development
VTT is continuing to expand the site’s capabilities with new tracking infrastructure. A recently added radar system improves visibility during flight operations and supports the development of detection and airspace awareness tools.
“In the future, technologies will be tested in the area in even more demanding conditions to ensure the functionality of devices and systems in critical conditions. Test operations are also expanding to heavier aircraft, long-range drones, and high-altitude systems,” said Jussi Kangasoja, UAS Specialist and Senior Scientist at VTT.
