One of the world's most extensive measurement campaigns studied radio and radar signal propagation in Finland's Archipelago Sea
More than 60 experts contributed to the preparation of and participated in the measurement campaign led by the Finnish Meteorological Institute. Participants included researchers from the Finnish Meteorological Institute, defence research organisations in Finland, Norway and Sweden, the Finnish Navy, Warsaw University of Technology and VTT. The private sector was represented by the Finnish company Skyfora Ltd and the Swedish company Qamcom Research & Technology AB.
The observations aim to improve the ability to monitor and forecast how radio and radar signals propagate through the atmosphere. The results can be applied across a wide range of frequencies in both civilian and defence applications that rely on the electromagnetic spectrum, including the use and countermeasures against unmanned aerial and surface systems.
The month-long campaign built on the comprehensive observations collected at the Finnish Meteorological Institute's Utö Atmospheric and Marine Research Station. These observations were complemented by measurements from autonomous platforms, drones, radiosondes, research vessels, radars and satellites, as well as by oceanic, atmospheric and near-Earth space models.
"The campaign was very successful. Almost all of the planned measurements were successfully completed, and the resulting data will help improve electromagnetic signal propagation models and increase the accuracy of signal propagation forecasts over sea areas," says Lauri Laakso, Principal Scientist at the Finnish Meteorological Institute, who led the measurement campaign.
FESPAN (Forecasting Electromagnetic Signal Propagation Anomalies) is a Finnish-led project coordinated by VTT. Its objective is to improve knowledge of the operating environment of the electromagnetic spectrum for defence applications. The project is funded by the European Defence Fund with a total budget of approximately EUR 22 million. Within the project, the Finnish Meteorological Institute coordinates experimental measurement campaigns over land and sea across Europe during 2025–2027, as well as modelling of marine and atmospheric conditions.
Further information
Principal Scientist Lauri Laakso, Finnish Meteorological Institute, tel. +358 29 539 2064
Email address is in the format firstname.lastname@fmi.fi.
This work has received funding from the European Defence Fund (EDF) under the grant agreement FESPAN no. 101167641. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
