“We’re pleased to open Estonia’s first training center for unmanned aerial vehicles, located at the Koigi grass airfield,” said Peeter Karja, Southern Portfolio Manager at the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI). “This center expands training opportunities for units and strengthens cooperation with our allies.”
Karja also highlighted the importance of UAV training, noting, “The experience from the war in Ukraine has shown how crucial UAV training is for developing our capabilities.” The role of unmanned systems in modern warfare was further emphasised by Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.
“The war in Ukraine has demonstrated that drones and unmanned systems are key in modern warfare,” said Minister Pevkur. “Drones are also important for the development of Estonia’s defense capabilities.”
Pevkur pointed out the rapid evolution of drone technology and the need to advance Estonia’s training accordingly. “I am glad Estonia now has its own dedicated UAV training center,” he added.
Located at the Koigi airfield, the centre will play a key role in supporting field exercises for both national and allied forces. Major General Ilmar Tamm, Commander of the Estonian Defence League, praised the opening as a major development for Estonia’s defence efforts.
“The Nurmsi drone center will become a hub for technological development in this field, and it’s no exaggeration to say that the Defence League is leading the way in how drones can be used for Estonia’s defense,” said Major General Tamm. “The newly opened center enables us to integrate lessons learned from Ukraine and NATO allies into our national defense, while also offering excellent infrastructure to our partners from the Defence Forces and the defense industry.”
The centre includes a three-story building with 1,300 square metres of space, featuring classrooms, equipment storage and maintenance areas, as well as accommodation, sanitation, and leisure facilities. A standout feature is a glass tower providing a 360-degree view.
Jaanus Lohu, board member of Paide MEK AS, the local company responsible for construction, noted the unique challenges of the project. “We gained valuable experience from this project,” Lohu said. “It’s undoubtedly an important object for the development of defense capabilities, and we could use more such facilities in Järva County.”
The development of the UAV training centre was fully funded by the government of Luxembourg at a cost of approximately five million euros. The initial cooperation agreement between the defence ministries of Luxembourg and Estonia was signed in April 2021.
Source: ECDI.
