Finnish Firm Kelluu Debuts Jamming-Resistant Airships, Tested Near Russian Border

The Finnish startup Kelluu, based in the city of Joensuu near the Russian border, has unveiled a new generation of airships. They are capable of carrying out long-duration surveillance and territory-monitoring missions.

The company has received a contract under a NATO innovation program, Business Insider reports.

Kelluu’s miniature airships are filled with hydrogen, which simultaneously provides lift and powers the propeller. According to the engineers, the devices can stay airborne for up to 12 hours, significantly exceeding the capabilities of most small drones.

About the size of a city bus but only 2 meters wide, Kelluu’s airships are much smaller than historical Zeppelins. They can carry an additional payload of up to 5 kg—cameras, radars, or other sensors. Their maximum speed is 53 km/h, and their low cost and ease of production make it possible to create entire fleets without the risk of major financial losses if several units are lost.

A key feature of the design is its resistance to electronic interference. Because of its proximity to the Russian border, the Kelluu team constantly encounters signal jamming and spoofing, which has effectively become a free testing ground. This has allowed the company to create devices capable of operating even under intense electronic warfare conditions.

In addition, the airships are built for harsh climate conditions. In the region, winter temperatures can drop to –26°C, so the devices are engineered to fly in severe cold and strong winds.

In the future, the company plans to develop airships capable of carrying out multi-day missions with minimal operator intervention. This could become an important tool for NATO in monitoring borders and Arctic territories.