Finland is applying for 35 million euros in additional funding from the European Commission for equipment that would help prevent drones from entering its territory, according to a statement from Parliament's finance committee.

The committee said the funding would be used by the Border Guard to acquire technology that detects and combats drones.

If approved, the acquisitions would mainly occur during 2027-2029, with the European Commission funding covering 90 percent of the costs.

The interior ministry said the technology acquisitions would significantly improve Finland's ability to monitor drones on the eastern border and in the Gulf of Finland.

Finland applied for the funding by way of the Commission's Border Management and Visa Policy Instrument (BMVI).

At the end of last month, Ukrainian drones headed for Russian targets on the Gulf of Finland strayed and crashed in eastern Finland.

Finland agrees howitzer deal with South Korea

Separately, Finland's defence ministry announced on Thursday the signing of a deal with South Korea on the purchase of surplus K9 self-propelled howitzers.

A defence ministry press release put the total value of the procurement at approximately 546.8 million euros.

"The acquisition is a part of the decade-long modernization of the Finnish Army as stated in the Government Defence Report. At the same time, this is a strong expression of the close co-operation of the respective defence administrations of Finland and the Republic of Korea," Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen (NCP) said.

The ministry's statement noted that the procurement will "further enhance the army’s firepower and its ability to support operational forces with long-range artillery systems".