The Estonian Defense and Aerospace Industry Association currently boasts approximately 130 members, signaling a significant step in its growth path, according to an official from the association.
The industry is experiencing rapid expansion in Estonia, Rene Ehasalu, Cluster Manager at the Estonian Defense and Aerospace Industry Association told DefenseHere in an interview at the World Defense Show (WDS) held in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh in February this year.
Ehasalu shared that in 2022 alone, they have achieved a 40% growth rate and looking ahead to 2023, “our aim is to surpass this growth rate.”
Ehasalu highlighted the association's strategic focus on future technologies, envisioning advancements in autonomous systems, drones, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity as pivotal to the defense industry's evolution over the next five to ten years.
Emphasizing their international aspirations, Ehasalu noted a burgeoning interest in the Gulf region.
He said the year 2024 marked their second participation at the WDS, and that their presence has expanded significantly.
“Previously, we showcased six companies; now, that number has grown to nine,” noting their increasing footprint in markets such as Saudi Arabia, other Gulf states, and, Türkiye.
He pointed to recent collaborative efforts, including Estonia's procurement of Turkish armored vehicles valued at several hundred million euros.
