“Drone detection coverage is now in place across more than 25 cities in Estonia,” according to Sten Nurmsalu, CEO of Estonian drone company HexTech in a Linkedin post. “This is not a pilot, it’s continuous, nationwide visibility into low-altitude airspace. The shift is from reacting to isolated incidents to having continuous awareness of what is happening in the sky.”
On April 30 this year the government announced it was building a multi-layered air defence system, to expand the capabilities for monitoring and countering unmanned aerial vehicles in peacetime and clarify the responsibilities of different agencies.
In March this year Ukrainian drones entered Estonian airspace from Russia hitting the chimney of a power plant in Auvere, Estonia. The country’s WW-Alarm national warning system was activated when the all-clear signal was sent.
According to Prime Minister Kristen Michal, new threats call for new rules. “A multi-layered drone defence system will be established, where the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) will be the first to respond to civilian drones,” said a government statement. If the PPA is unable to counter the threat, the Defence Forces will do so. In the case of military drones, the roles are reversed. Security companies responsible for the protection of national defence objects and in-house security organisers are also authorised to intercept drones, both military and civilian drones, and install drone counter-drone systems.”
The draft act creates a uniform monitoring situation. In addition to the Defence Forces and the Police and Border Guard Board, the Transport Administration, the Estonian Air Navigation Services (EANS) and possessors of national defence objects also monitor and provide each other with necessary information about objects flying in the airspace, said the government. EANS and Frequentis officially put their cloud-based unmanned traffic management (UTM) system into operation back in September 2023.
HexTech Solutions along with other technology partners such as Rantelon and Marduck Technologies are providing a range of sensors including RF detection and acoustic sensors radars and cameras for the new national network
“A so-called ‘drone police’ will be established, and the Police and Border Guard Board will be given the authority, mandate, and resources to intercept dangerous unmanned aerial vehicles, including military drones, throughout Estonia,” said the government statement. “If the Police and Border Guard Board is unable to counter the threat on its own or do so quickly enough, the Defence.”
The Government Office has drawn up a drone roadmap, which has been sent to public and private sector organisations and partners for feedback.
In March this year Estonian and US military personnel carried out Exercise Digital Shield to enhance the capability of allied forces to detect, decide and act more rapidly than potential adversaries in a disrupted environment.
The operation centred on the integration of experimental C-UAS system capabilities into operational networks, while reinforcing coordination between allied forces on NATO’s eastern flank. “The objectives for Digital Shield are ensuring that we’re integrating experimental counter-UAS effectors and sensors into a scalable commercial cloud architecture, really building out the Eastern Flank deterrence initiative and ensuring that we can defeat mass momentum in the air domain,” said U.S. Army Capt. Micah Maule, of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, in a US Army press statement.
For more information
https://www.army.mil/article/290930/us_estonian_forces_strengthen_counter_drone_capabilities_at_digital_shield_2026
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sten-nurmsalu-65841a324/
https://valitsus.ee/en/news/prime-minister-michal-new-drone-threats-also-require-new-rules
https://www.olevalmis.ee/en/public-warning-system-known-as-ee-alarm
https://news.err.ee/1609976919/drone-entering-estonian-airspace-from-russia-hits-auvere-power-station-chimney
(Image: This year’s Digital Shield exercise was an event where civilian defense contractors showcased new and experimental counter-drone systems and technology to the Estonian government and its allies. Photo Credit: U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Gabriel Martinez)
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