Drone training centre in Nurmsi: Estonia to train Kaitseliit, armed forces and allies

Units of the Kaitseliit (Estonian Defence League), the Estonian Defence Forces and allied troops will in future train in drone operations at Nurmsi, where Estonia has opened its first drone training centre, a facility for unmanned aerial vehicles.

Peeter Karja, southern region head at the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment (RKIK), spoke at the inauguration:

“It is a great pleasure to inaugurate the first training centre for unmanned aerial vehicles in Estonia”— Peeter Karja, RKIK

“The centre considerably expands the training opportunities for our units and at the same time strengthens cooperation with our allies. The experience of the war in Ukraine has shown impressively how important training in unmanned systems is for building up our capabilities.”— Peeter Karja, RKIK

Why the drone training centre matters to the minister

Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur also stressed the new facility's importance:

“Drones and unmanned systems play a key role in modern warfare. Their importance grows every day, and Estonia's defence capability also depends increasingly on their effective use. That makes it all the more important to consistently expand our training in this field. I am pleased that Estonia now has its own training centre for unmanned aerial vehicles.”— Hanno Pevkur, Minister of Defence

The centre is based at Koigi airfield. It is to support and further develop training and exercises of the Kaitseliit, Estonian Defence Forces and allied units in the long term.