The EU Will Allocate 32 Million Euros To Estonia To Strengthen Drone Monitoring Of The Border With Russia
- 16.10.2026, 10:15
The system will provide a comprehensive overview of what is happening on NATO's eastern border.
The European Commission has made a preliminary decision to allocate nearly 32 million euros to Estonia. With these funds, the Police and Border Guard Board, in cooperation with the Defense Forces, will continue to develop a multi-layered, integrated system for drone detection and aerial surveillance along the eastern border—that is, the external border of the European Union— reports ERR.
The drone detection and aerial surveillance system currently under development will provide Estonia with “eyes” that will allow it to better monitor and protect its land and river borders, including border crossing points, and prevent illegal border crossings, smuggling, the unauthorized use of unmanned aerial vehicles, and illegal migration, according to a press release from the Estonian Ministry of the Interior.
“In cooperation with the Defense Forces, we will be able to procure and install radars and cameras, equipment necessary for detecting drones, as well as the supporting IT system. This will enhance our ability to identify and assess potential threats so that we can respond to them promptly. Our goal is to prevent threats before they begin to affect the safety of Estonia’s residents,” said Minister of the Interior Igor Taro.
“Thanks to this support, over the next three years, together with the Defense Forces, we will be able to take surveillance of the airspace and land along the eastern border to a new level, create a more comprehensive picture of the operational situation, and enhance our ability to identify and assess potential threats both on land, along the Narva River, and in the air,” said Veiko Kommusaar, Deputy Director General of the Police and Border Guard Board for Border Security.
He added that the main value of the investment lies not in individual radars or drones, but in the ability to view events on the eastern border as a unified picture and respond to potential threats faster and more accurately than ever before.
The drone detection and aerial surveillance system is scheduled to become operational by the end of 2029.
Funding will be provided through the European Union’s Border Management and Visa Policy Fund. In addition to the allocated funds, the Estonian government will provide 10% co-financing.
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