Estonia’s defence industry is agile and adaptive, ensuring a swift and effective response to evolving global threats. The country supplies a broad range of advanced defence solutions to help other nations enhance their defence capabilities.
Estonia is ranked #1 in the EU for cybersecurity on the Global Cybersecurity Index and is home to the Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence. The country is also the home base for the world’s largest international cyber exercises: Locked Shields and Crossed Swords, showcasing its significant contributions to international cybersecurity efforts.
Besides cyber security capabilities, Estonia pledges over 3% of its GDP to defence investment. The country works closely with NATO and other international partners as an active participant in the EU’s Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP).
Through investments in technology and strategic partnerships, Estonia also develops advanced cyber defence solutions (Cybers), robotics (Milrem Robotics), autonomous systems (DefSecIntel), sensors (ELSA Solutions), and communication technologies (Teleport) that aid battlefield superiority. These three companies serve as good examples of innovative defence industry companies:
Surveillance powered by artificial intelligence
DefSecIntel is focused on developing and manufacturing world-class mobile autonomous and automated land and costal surveillance systems with AI-technologies. The solutions are playing an important role for defence and homeland security in rapidly changing security environment.
„We have never aimed to be just a software developer or outsourcer. We are agile turn key integrated solution provider, always ready to take risks and experiment in both product development and production, regardless of the environment,” said Jaanus Tamm, CEO of DefSecIntel.
Their best solution for land and costal border protection and surveillance combines hardware and software into a mobile and autonomous „tower“ with a drone station. DefSecIntel assembles this unique product entirely inhouse – vertically integrated.
GOOD TO KNOW
DefSecIntel combat-proven systems are equipped with AI-assisted technology and powered by autonomous green energy sources. Systems are designed for different landscape, terrain and weather conditions and for different missions.
“Simultaneously, we will continue to expand our expertise in the sector and involve as many other Estonian companies as possible in our activities,” noted Tamm.
DefSecIntel systems can be used for different missions for homeland security, defence agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors. Also, for environmental protection, for example it can help to detect illegal logging or wild-fires.
FACTS
Founded: 2018
Sector: DefenceTech
Employees: 74 (may 2024)
Location: Tallinn, Estonia and Ukraine
Customer base: the company offers autonomous and automated surveillance and control solutions for: land border, coastal and maritime monitoring and surveillance; military peacekeeping missions and force protection and temporary surveillance operations and intelligence missions (FOB); critical infrastructure territories and area surveillance; police and law enforcement, forest fire prevention operations
www.defsecintel.com
Milrem Robotics is developing unmanned ground vehicles and autonomous navigation systems. Photo: Milrem
Milrem enhancing combat effectiveness through robotics
Milrem’s mission is to provide innovative robotics solutions for challenging environments. Respect for the value of human life is their top priority; that is why the company aims to retrieve people from dangerous areas and liberate them from dirty, dull, and dangerous tasks. Through its products and services, Milrem seeks to increase human safety and labour efficiency in the defence industry.
„The best recognition in the defence industry is when your customers speak well of you. Today, Milrem is cited by the armies of various countries as a positive example both in terms of technology and cooperation partner,” said Kuldar Väärsi, CEO of Milrem.
“At the same time, it is not possible to do anything globally in the defence industry alone, which is why it is important to have a high-quality network with which to create the best possible result. Our center of gravity is in Estonia, but in order to involve worldclass talents, we also have to look outside,“ added Väärsi.
GOOD TO KNOW
Estonia’s defence industry operates within a private sector framework, benefiting from favourable business environment and efficient processes. This accelerates innovation and enables rapid adaptation to emerging defence needs.
The initial focus on developing unmanned ground vehicles has shifted towards developing autonomous navigation systems. Today, Milrem also focuses on integrating various payloads and coordinating vehicle operations on the battlefield.
Milrem’s primary focus is to be a systems integrator, offering clients a comprehensive suite of robotics solutions tailored to their needs. In developing these systems, Milrem engages in long-term and close collaboration with the University of Tartu and Tallinn University of Technology.
As Milrem deals with robotics that carry a weapon system at the same time, the company has made it clear that autonomous control will never be developed for weapon systems, but only for mobility.
Milrem systems have been part of robotic programs in 18 countries, with major deployments in Ukraine and the recently launched UAE program, which is currently the world’s largest combat robotics program.
FACTS
Founded: 2013
Sector: DefenceTech
Employees: 300
Location: Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Netherlands
Main export markets: USA, UK, Spain, France, Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Norway, Ukraine, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Australia
Customer base: 18 countries, including 8 NATO countries
milremrobotics.com
Threod System´s unmanned aerial vehicles. Photo: Threod Systems
Threod Systems is engineering the future of unmanned aircraft
Threod Systems develops and produces unmanned aircraft systems which includes fixed wing/VTOL hybrid Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), Electro-Optic payloads for intelligence and surveillance applications as well as many other critical sub-systems required to successfully operate UAVs.
Threod Systems also develops a variety of systems including C4I solutions, communication systems, training and simulation system and many more. The company also offers world-class engineering and manufacturing services for the defence and commercial sectors. The aim is to independently develop and construct as many components in-house, ensuring seamless interoperability across all systems.
„We want to still be around in 10 years, and we don’t consider this goal to be modest at all. If we can still be a strong competitor in 10 years, it will show that we have achieved something significant – in this market, staying competitive requires strong growth. A company of this scope in the Estonian context is already a feat in itself,” said Arno Vaik, CEO of Threod Systems.
FACTS
Founded: 2012
Sector: DefenceTech
Total investments raised: 10 M
Employees: 135
Location: Viimsi, Estonia. Training and service center in Ukraine
Main export markets: Africa, the Middle East and Ukraine. Products delivered to 25 countries, including 8 NATO member states.
Customer base: national defense forces, border guards, police, other UAV manufacturers in terms of subsystems
threod.com
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