The use of surveillance and combat command aircraft is increasing. Modern air surveillance radar aircraft are capable of several days of sustained flight.

Radar surveillance can be undertaken from hundreds of kilometres away, beyond the reach of the opposite side’s weapons. Such aircraft are often complete air surveillance and air activity command centres. Surveillance data and target painting from these aircraft can also be used in land and sea battle command functions. Aircraft systems are also fitted with a variety of electronic warfare devices.

Airborne air surveillance systems are extremely expensive. In Finland, fixed ground radar installations are used for radar air surveillance.

Marine surveillance, on the other hand, is augmented with the Learjet multi-purpose aircraft of the Air Force and the Dornier surveillance aircraft of the Frontier Guard.