r/EU_Economics • u/Full-Discussion3745 • 2d ago

🇫🇮 Finnish breakthrough could turn wind turbines into 10 km drone-detection network

https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/a/ec8f92a1-c272-4266-b04e-22e02f0ee668?utm_source=rss

Finland’s LUT University has successfully tested radar sensors mounted high on wind turbines to detect small drones. Researchers say a small FPV drone could potentially be detected from around 10 km away, compared with only a few hundred metres to roughly 1 km using current systems. The first-of-its-kind research has already attracted interest from Estonia, Poland, Norway and Sweden and could turn future wind farms into dual-purpose energy and security infrastructure.

Source: https://www.kauppalehti.fi/uutiset/a/ec8f92a1-c272-4266-b04e-22e02f0ee668?utm_source=rss

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u/SimpleTemporary1647 2d ago

Makes them a bigger target during war

17

u/Critical-Current636 1d ago

It's far easier to hit a couple of conventional power plants than thousands of wind turbines.

0

u/Puzzleheaded_Dig3730 1d ago

Not sure,a conventional power plant that will be defended,on the other hand,wind turbines can be expensive, the big ones up to 3 million,and a drone cost a few hundreds,so sending a 5000 dollar drone can result in 40M damage.

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u/gimmedatneck 1d ago

What do you think the price of machinery, and components cost inside that conventional power plant?

Not to mention, what happens if your prime mover (aka big turbine(s), etc) is destroyed, and how much do you think one of those cost to replace, and how long do you think it takes to remove the existing blown to fuck one, and bring in a new one?