Finnish company Robonic has unveiled plans for an unmanned air vehicle test range at Kemijarvi in the country’s far north.
The range will initially be allocated 1,000-1,500km2 (390-580 miles2) of airspace, making it one of the largest facilities of its kind in Europe.
An existing airstrip at Kemijarvi with a 1,200m-long (3,900ft) runway will be used to provide the basic range infrastructure when it opens early next year. “We will be able to have the first test flights in the spring of 2006,” says Robonic managing director Juha Moisio. Kemijarvi is inside the Arctic Circle, but remains open all year, he says.
The range will be offered for both civil and military UAV operations and may later include a UAV pilot training service.
Unveiling the range project at the Unmanned Systems International conference in London last week, Moisio said the private sector development reflects the rapid growth of the UAV sector internationally.
“UAVs are shifting into the mainstream as one of the powerhouse segments of the global aerospace and defence industries,” he said. “This new range will provide a dedicated UAV test and training facility that can support year-round operations in an extremely wide range of climate conditions.
“There is demand for airspace and the size and capabilities of this range should provide a real stimulus for new UAV development.”
Negotiations with Finnish regulators began earlier this year. The range area is currently classified as Class G uncontrolled airspace.
PETE LA FRANCHI/LONDON
Source: Flight International
