Baltic Defence Weekly – Special Issue: SSD 2026 Breaks All Records — 200 Exhibitors, 2,600+ Visitors, and the Road to SSD 2027 in Riga
Supply, Security & Defence Expo 2026 Breaks All Records Supply, Security & Defence Expo 2026, held on 10–11 June at the Estonian Fair Centre in Tallinn, broke all records in its second edition. The event attracted over 2,600 professionals and approximately 200 exhibitors from Estonia and abroad showcasing dual-use and defence innovations. SSD 2027 has […]
Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 85 (1–7 June 2026): SSD 2026 Set to Open in Tallinn, NORDSEC Builds Nordic-Baltic Defence Industrial Area, and Carl Bildt Says No Direct Russian Threat
Baltics’ Largest Defence & Security Expo SSD 2026 to Kick Off on June 10 Supply, Security & Defence Expo 2026 (SSD 2026) will be held in Tallinn on June 10–11, bringing together nearly 200 companies from NATO countries — the largest international supply chain security, internal security, and defence industry expo in the Baltic states. […]
Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 84 (25–31 May 2026): Lithuania’s €1.5bn Patria Deal, All Three Baltics Deploy Drone Defences, and €12bn EU Pledge
Lithuania Approves €1.5 Billion Procurement of 936 Patria 6×6 Armoured Vehicles Lithuania’s State Defence Council authorised the Ministry of Defence to purchase 936 Patria 6×6 armoured personnel carriers in one of the largest single defence procurements in Baltic history. The estimated cost is €1.5 billion through 2036, with the contract expected to be signed with […]
Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 83 (18–24 May 2026): Drone Incursions Shake the Baltics, NATO F-16 Shootdown, and Presidents Demand Air Defence Mission
Baltic Presidents Demand NATO Upgrade Air Policing to Air Defence Mission The three Baltic presidents issued a joint statement calling on NATO to transform its current Baltic Air Policing mission into a full air defence mission and to deploy counter-drone capabilities in the region. The demand followed a tense week of drone incursions that saw […]
Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 80 (27 April–3 May 2026): Kaja Kallas Urges EU Toughness on Russia, U.S. Troop Cuts in Germany, and Baltic Defence Industry Momentum
EU’s Kaja Kallas Urges Europe Not to “Humiliate Itself” by Begging Russia for Talks European Union High Representative Kaja Kallas delivered a forceful message at the Nordic Baltic Eight (NB8) meeting on Saaremaa, urging the EU to maintain a tough stance on Russia and warning against premature negotiations. Kallas called for increased pressure on Moscow […]
Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 78 (13–19 April 2026): Estonia–Lithuania Strategic Push, Frankenburg Gets New Funding, and U.S. Delivery Delays Hit the Baltics
Estonian President’s State Visit to Lithuania Strengthens Baltic Defence Ties President Alar Karis led a business delegation including several defence tech companies on a state visit to Lithuania, where he met President Gitanas Nausėda. The two heads of state signed a joint declaration consolidating their strategic partnership through 2030, with a focus on defence cooperation, […]
Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 77 (6–12 April 2026): Estonia Scraps €500m IFV Deal for Drone Defence, Saab Radars for Baltics, and HIMARS Expansion
Estonia Cancels €500m Combat Vehicle Procurement, Redirects Funds to Air and Drone Defence Estonia made headlines this week when the government cancelled its €500 million procurement of new infantry fighting vehicles, redirecting the entire budget toward air defence, drone defence, and situational awareness. Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said the decision was driven by lessons from […]
Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 76 (30 March–5 April 2026): Frankenburg Tops Baltic Startup Ranking, Mark I Missile World First, and Estonian Defence Revenue Up 350%
Frankenburg Technologies Tops Ranking of Most Innovative Baltic Defence Startups A panel of 34 defence experts from across the Baltic states ranked Frankenburg Technologies as the most innovative defence industry startup in the region, with Origin Robotics (Latvia) and Unmanned Defense Systems (Lithuania) taking second and third place. The ranking, compiled by Delfi Media, named […]
Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 73 (9–15 March 2026): Wolfram Europa Breaks Cover, HEVI Optronics Acquired, and Five Nations Launch Anti-Drone Missile Programme
Wolfram Europa Exits Stealth Mode with Mass Manufacturing Defence Mission Estonian defence company Wolfram Europa stepped into the spotlight this week, announcing its mission of mass manufacturing for defence and hiring Magnus-Valdemar Saar, former director general of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (RKIK), as CEO. Former RKIK deputy Katri Raudsepp joined as COO. The […]
Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 72 (2–8 March 2026): Hanwha’s €100m Estonia Investment, Lithuanian Tank Assembly Plant, and Europe’s Drone Manufacturing Challenge
Hanwha Aerospace Announces €100m Investment in Estonia’s Defence Industry South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace announced a sweeping €100 million investment package aimed at transforming Estonia into a strategic hub for land systems across the Nordic and Baltic region. The centrepiece of the deal is a new factory producing 40mm ammunition with an annual capacity exceeding 300,000 […]