Estonia Opens First Training Center for Drone Operators

Estonia has opened its first training center for external drone pilots, the Estonian Defense Investment Center announced.

The center, located in Nurmsi at the Koigi airfield, is subordinate to the Estonian Armed Forces and will also train specialists for other law enforcement agencies.

According to the Minister of Defense, the war in Ukraine has demonstrated that drones and unmanned systems have become key elements of modern warfare.

“This area is developing rapidly, and we must also improve our training in the use of drones. I am glad that Estonia now has its own dedicated UAV training center,” he said.

The three-story building covers 1,300 square meters and includes classrooms, equipment storage, and maintenance facilities, as well as residential, sanitary, and recreational areas.

The Luxembourg government fully financed the center at a cost of around €5 million.

An initial cooperation agreement between the defense ministries of Luxembourg and Estonia was signed in April 2021.

Developing Estonia’s Defense Infrastructure

It was recently reported that Estonia plans to build a new military base to relocate troops closer to the Russian border and strengthen its regional presence alongside allied forces.

The government is selecting a site near Narva for a small base that would house several hundred troops. The facility is intended to host both Estonian soldiers and NATO allies, including personnel from the United Kingdom and the United States.

“The new military base will send a signal to residents that the Estonian state has a strong presence,” Major General Vahur Karus reported in an interview with public broadcaster ERR.

Estonia’s move to strengthen its military presence in the border region follows Russia’s formation of new army units near the frontier. Narva, a border town, has already been a focal point of disputes over the demarcation line with Russia.