The Kemijärvi airfield is to be opened for use as a test flight centre for international companies, reports Ruotuväki, the Finnish Defence Forces newspaper, in its Friday issue

The new Robonic Arctic UAV Test Flight Centre (RAUTFC), located just inside the artic circle, is to be used for testing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and their equipment before sale to armed forces in various countries.

Lieutenant Commander Jyri Saanio from the defence ministry told Ruotuväki that the test flights did not qualify as military activity, just business between private companies.

Test flights are probably to begin during the summer, Juha Moisio, managing director of Finnish engineering company Robonic, said in his interview by Ruotuväki. Robonic, which primarily manufactures UAV launching systems, is in charge of organising the test flight project.

Source and more info: finland