Finnish Firm Unveils ‘Steel Eagle ER’ Drone Developed for Ukraine
Finnish company Insta has unveiled the Insta Steel Eagle ER (extended range) drone, which has been developed and tested for use in Ukraine.
Insta designed the explosive charge, while an undisclosed Ukrainian partner company supplied the drone components.
Currently available in Ukraine, the system could soon also be marketed in Europe and NATO countries, the company stated.
“The new solution combines broad expertise with state-of-the-art technology tested in harsh conditions,” explained Tuure Lehtoranta, VP of Sales and Customers Defence at Insta.
Features
The Insta Steel Eagle ER is a flying directional explosive charge designed for deployment in challenging conditions.
The ER version features an extended range and increased payload capacity, making it more effective and cost-efficient than its predecessor.
The drone transports the explosive charge to an optimal position above the target before detonation.
Its charge contains steel or tungsten balls, dispersing over 3,000 fragments across approximately 2,000 square meters (21,527 square feet).
The explosive charge weighs 3.6 kilograms (7.9 pounds).
Finnish Drones for Kyiv
Helsinki has played a significant role in strengthening Ukraine’s defense and combat capabilities.
Last year, Finnish company Summa Defence partnered with Ukrainian firms to establish a drone manufacturing facility in Finland.
The project aims to expand drone production for Kyiv and scale up manufacturing in Finland and other European locations.
Production is scheduled to begin in the first half of this year.
In April 2022, soon after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland increased its defense spending by more than 70 percent, reaching 2 billion euros ($2.2 billion).