How Finland’s Kelluu Turns Russian Jamming Into Surveillance Leverage

Border tensions drive defense innovation in unexpected ways. Finland’s Kelluu is building low-cost hydrogen airships near the Russian border, designed for persistent surveillance amid constant signal jamming. But this is not a story of disruption by avoidance—it's about leveraging hostile interference as a system-level accelerator. “We get all sorts of jamming and spoofing, so we’ve been proven resilient against this sort of GSS denial,” says engineering lead Niko Kuikka.

Why traditional aerial surveillance misses the mark

Conventional military surveillance relies on expensive aircraft crews, short-lived drones, or irregular satellite passes. Most assume smaller aerial platforms can't play for long or survive interference. Kelluu proves this wrong by repositioning constraints: instead of hiding from electronic warfare, it designs airships that must work through it, because operating 50 miles from Russia means jamming is a given, not a risk to avoid. This constraint became a forcing function for robustness, a concept often overlooked outside of defense ([see how AI forces workers to evolve](https://thinkinleverage.com/why-ai-actually-forces-workers-to-evolve-not-replace-them/)).

Unlike larger Zeppelins or military planes, Kelluu’s airships are compact (about as long as a city bus and six feet wide) and can launch quickly, climbing above treelines in under 10 seconds. This agility comes with automation benefits—human operators need only set targets while onboard computers handle flight, shifting the human burden.

Hydrogen fuel and Arctic conditioning as unexpected advantages

Most airships fly on helium, a costly and scarce resource, but Kelluu uses hydrogen for lift and propulsion despite its flammability. This design choice cuts materials costs while improving flight endurance up to 12 hours—far beyond typical drones’ few-hour limits. The semi-rigid frame combined with hydrogen lowers manufacturing complexity, enabling the startup’s ambition to mass-produce 3,500 units for NATO and allied nations.

Building so close to the Arctic Circle means Kelluu must also solve cold-weather survival. Their airships endure -15°F winds, making them ideal for persistent Arctic monitoring where other systems fail. Fewer ground operators are needed thanks to multi-day mission goals, which sharply reduces personnel costs and supply chain complexity.

Winning NATO’s trust by embracing jamming as ‘free interference’

NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA) picked Kelluu out of 2,600 proposals for its unique fit in the contested electronic environment of Eastern Europe. NATO officials praise the airships’ ability to function in “electromagnetic contested and congested environments” while maintaining low radar visibility.

Unlike high-cost systems where losing one unit threatens fleet operations, Kelluu gives customers a low-cost, scalable option that accepts attrition as a cost of doing business. This approach flips the common military mindset from protectionism to resilience through scale and automation, a theme also explored in how Ukraine’s drone surge reshaped military production (How Ukraine Sparked A 10b Drone Surge In Military Production).

Shifting constraints reshape border security’s future

Finland’s geostrategic shift—from tourism-dependent border towns like Joensuu to a front-line innovation hub—reflects a broader NATO recalibration. The constraint that once limited persistent air surveillance was electronic jamming and harsh climates. Kelluu transformed these into development accelerators, enabling a new surveillance layer between fast drones and slow satellites.

Other NATO countries should watch this tightly coupled design of environment, threat, and tech. The rise of automated, jamming-resistant airships means fewer soldiers risk deployments and surveillance becomes continuous, not episodic. “Countries that control the electromagnetic environment with scalable platforms control the battlefield’s informational high ground,” says Fabrizio Berizzi, DIANA’s challenge manager.

This model flips the script on legacy sensing assets and lays groundwork for how automation and environmental constraints can forge operational advantage.

For more on military tech shifts and strategic system design, see How OpenAI Actually Scaled ChatGPT to 1 Billion Users and Why Wall Street’s Tech Selloff Actually Exposes Profit Lock-In Constraints.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Finland's Kelluu developing for surveillance near the Russian border?

Kelluu is building low-cost hydrogen-powered airships designed for persistent surveillance despite constant Russian signal jamming. These airships are about as long as a city bus and can fly continuously for up to 12 hours.

How do Kelluu's airships handle electronic jamming?

Instead of avoiding electronic warfare, Kelluu's airships are specifically designed to operate through jamming and spoofing. This resilience allows persistent aerial surveillance 50 miles from the Russian border, where jamming is a constant factor.

Why does Kelluu use hydrogen instead of helium for their airships?

Kelluu chooses hydrogen over helium to cut material costs and improve flight endurance, enabling flights up to 12 hours. Hydrogen's flammability is managed through design, and the semi-rigid frame simplifies manufacturing.

What advantages do Kelluu's airships have in Arctic conditions?

The airships are built to endure extreme cold, surviving winds as low as -15°F, making them ideal for Arctic Circle surveillance where other systems might fail. This design supports multi-day missions and reduces personnel and supply chain requirements.

How many airships does Kelluu plan to mass-produce, and for whom?

Kelluu aims to mass-produce around 3,500 airships intended for NATO and allied nations, offering a scalable, low-cost option for electronic contested environments.

What makes Kelluu's approach different from traditional military surveillance?

Unlike expensive aircraft and drones with limited flight times, Kelluu emphasizes automated, jamming-resistant airships that operate continuously and accept attrition. This flips the military mindset from protectionism to resilience through scale.

How has NATO recognized Kelluu's technology?

Kelluu was selected by NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA) from 2,600 proposals for its unique ability to operate in congested electromagnetic environments with low radar visibility.

What implications does Kelluu's innovation have for border security?

Kelluu’s model creates a new surveillance layer between drones and satellites, enabling continuous monitoring with fewer soldiers deployed. This innovation may reshape NATO’s strategic approach to electronic warfare and surveillance.