Estonia shifts spending from armoured vehicles to drones, air defence

Estonia’s government has decided to temporarily suspend a €500 million programme to procure new armoured vehicles and redirect the funds toward strengthening air defence, drones, and other unmanned systems, Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said.

He emphasized that the decision was based on lessons from the war in Ukraine, current market conditions, and recommendations from military leadership, Caliber.Az reports, citing Estonian media.

Delivery of the new combat vehicles had previously been scheduled for 2029–2030.

He added that Estonia plans to extend the service life of its existing CV90 infantry fighting vehicles by another 10 years, describing this as a more cost-effective option than a full replacement.

The minister noted that the role of heavy armoured vehicles on the modern battlefield is declining, while the importance of air defence, unmanned systems, and reconnaissance capabilities is increasing.

The reallocated funds will be used to enhance military mobility, develop counter-drone technologies, and improve situational awareness.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov