Posts Tagged ‘defence’
Saildrone Expands Persistent Maritime Capabilities with Sub-Seafloor Awareness in the Baltic
Following numerous attacks by unidentified hostile actors, the leaders of the Baltic states have committed to jointly expanding their ability to monitor and protect critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic Sea. Scattered across the 110,000-square-nautical-mile (422,000-square-kilometer) maritime region are energy and communication cables, pipelines, and wind pylons—all potential targets for disruption.
Protecting undersea infrastructure requires continuous maritime presence, not episodic patrols. Persistent surface and subsurface awareness eliminates predictable gaps that adversaries can exploit and strengthens deterrence in contested waters. Saildrone, the global leader in autonomous ocean exploration, has successfully integrated and operated a sub-bottom profiler (SBP) on a Saildrone Voyager unmanned surface vehicle (USV).
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Originally published on 3 Mar
Read MoreInsta and the Ukrainian defence company Tencore agree on technology cooperation related to unmanned ground vehicles
The Finnish technology company Insta, specializing in defence solutions and cybersecurity, and the Ukrainian supplier of robotic platforms Tencore have agreed on extensive Build With Ukraine joint production initiative, cooperation and the development of military technology.
According to the agreement (Memorandum of Understanding), Insta and Tencore will advance and explore the localization of production of unmanned TerMIT UGV ground vehicles in Finland. This includes manufacturing, assembly, and supply chain development. The agreement also covers joint product development related to integrating AI and autonomy solutions combat or military platforms
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Originally published on 26 Feb
Read MoreAn unmanned invasion Denmark’s military build-up is going to the drones
Denmark has reactivated an air-force squadron that will operate four long-range drones to support surveillance of its interests in the Arctic, the North Atlantic and the Baltic.
The decision to purchase the American-produced MQ-9B SeaGuardians was announced last year, as was the three-year wait to have them delivered. But building up a drone corps in Denmark will take time as well; the air-force announced yesterday that it will need to hire and train a hundred or so people—many of them civilians—to keep the drones up and running.
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The drone purchase is being made with the blank cheque the government gave the military last year, when it ordered it to procure the materiel it deems necessary to scale up its capacity as quickly as possible. Drones, it appears, fit that bill nicely: the SeaGuardians join four saildrones that were sea-trialled in June in preparation for surveillance operations in the Baltic. Compared with crewed systems, the drones are cheap and quickly rolled out.
The saildrones are also American-made, however—a fact that does not sit well with those who would prefer that the military start buying more of its kit in Europe. Other European armies are stocking up on American arms too, though: Germany, Belgium and Poland are all buying SeaGuardians. The saildrones’ producer, for its part, has chosen to set up a European sales office in Copenhagen. Denmark is unlikely to be the last country American drones take over.
Elmar Vaher appointed director-general of ECDI
Elmar Vaher has been appointed director-general of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI). Elmar was selected by the defence minister, Hanno Pevkur, on the recommendation of the government’s senior executive selection committee.
From 2013 to 2023, Elmar served as director-general of the Police and Border Guard Board, where he led the consolidation and modernisation of one of Estonia’s largest public-sector organisations. He holds a master’s degree in law and has completed several executive-level leadership programmes.
Connect with Elmar on LinkedIn
Read MoreParticipants at Military Mobility Forum: operational mobility is key to collective defence
On 17 February 2026, the first high-level forum on military mobility in the Baltic region took place in Vilnius, bringing together ministers, senior officials, military experts, infrastructure leaders, and other high-level representatives from across Europe. The LTG Forum on Military Mobility and Resilience was led by Lietuvos geležinkeliai (LTG) Group in cooperation with the Lithuanian Ministry of Transport and Communications and under the patronage of Gitanas Nausėda, demonstrating the growing strategic importance of resilient, dual-use infrastructure for Europe’s security and defence posture.
The presence of two European Commissioners underscored the political weight of the event and signaled that the European Union is treating the defence of its Eastern flank as a concrete priority. Andrius Kubilius, European Commissioner for Defence and Space, stressed that credible deterrence depends on Europe’s ability to move forces rapidly and effectively across borders, emphasizing that military mobility is not simply a transport matter but a strategic precondition for security. Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism, highlighted that preparedness requires clear and simplified rules enabling swift cross-border movement of personnel and equipment, particularly along Europe’s Eastern flank.
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Originally published on 17 Feb
Read MoreEstonian defence companies secure key partnerships at World Defence Show 2026
Estonia’s defence sector is making rounds even beyond Europe, and this week has demonstrated its digital capabilities at the World Defence Show in Riyadh. According to the official press release, the delegation members have secured three memoranda of understanding with regional and international partners.
The agreements, signed during the 13 February 2026 event, included partnerships between Threod Systems and Saudi Arabia’s First Shield, DefSecIntel Solutions and Oman’s The Armored Group, and Frankenburg Technologies and South Korea’s Hanwha. The deals cover autonomous systems, surveillance, counter-unmanned aircraft systems (counter-UAS), and digitally integrated defence technologies.
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Originally published on 13 Feb
Read MorePSF 2026: CBSS Opens Call for Project Proposals on Security and Resilience
The Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) invites proposals for projects focusing on strengthening security and resilience in the Baltic Sea Region under its Project Support Facility (PSF) 2026 call, which opens on 15 February 2026. Applications will be accepted until 31 March 2026.
The PSF 2026 call seeks innovative projects that foster understanding, cooperation, and mutual trust, contributing to a safer, more resilient, and sustainable region. Proposals should align with one of the CBSS’s three long-term priority areas, promoting sustainable partnerships and macro-regional cooperation.
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Originally published on 5 Feb
Read MoreEstonia launches Defence Business Lab for startups
To secure the status of Europe’s frontier DefenceTech destination, Estonia is moving fast, and is now building a pipeline for defence startups to win major international funding. Estonia’s Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications, has established a pre-accelerator programme called the Defence Business Lab, according to the official press release.
Designed to help local companies compete more effectively in major international defence funding competitions, the programme aims to prepare early-stage development teams for successful applications to NATO DIANA (Defence Innovation Accelerator for the North Atlantic) and the European Defence Fund (EDF), two significant sources of defence funding.
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Originally published on 2 Feb
Read MoreKicking Off NATO DIANA’s 2026 Programme
Last week marked the start of DIANA’s 2026 Programme, with 16 different regional kick-offs taking place across the Alliance. These events not only kicked off the official start of DIANA innovators’ acceleration journey, but also brought together a world-class community of innovators, industry leaders, accelerator partners, and defence representatives, all eager to shape the future of the Alliance.
The 2026 programme features DIANA’s largest cohort to date, involving 150 innovators with a clear mission: to drive innovation while helping ensure that the Alliance remains at the forefront of global defence and security challenges.
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Originally published on 30 Jan
Read MoreLithuania receives increased EIB Group financing of €577 million in 2025 with major defence, energy projects
The European Investment Bank (EIB) Group’s financing in Lithuania rose 29% to €577 million last year on the back of stepped-up support for security and defence in the country. The increase in 2025 also helped expand renewable energy and upgrade water networks in Lithuania.
The EIB Group’s activity in Lithuania last year represented 0.7% of its gross domestic product (GDP) and helped mobilise €1.4 billion in total investments – equivalent to 1.7% of GDP. The operations supported around 1,500 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and Mid-Caps and helped sustain more than 17,000 jobs across the country.
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Originally published on 30 Jan
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