Brigadier General Sirel: Drones are only a small part of Estonia's defence needs

Brigadier General Indrek Sirel, commander of the Estonian Defence Force's division, emphasised that whilst developing drone capabilities is necessary, it constitutes only a small part of the country's overall defence requirements. Estonia must also invest in other areas of defensive capability.

Brigadier General Indrek Sirel, commander of the Estonian Defence Force's division, recently stated that whilst drones are certainly an important tool in modern warfare, they represent only a fraction of the country's overall defence needs.

According to Sirel, Estonia undoubtedly needs to develop its drone capabilities, but this should not overshadow other areas of defensive capability that equally require attention and investment. Modern state defence requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses far more than the use of unmanned aerial vehicles alone.

The brigadier general stressed that in developing Estonia's defence capability, the full spectrum must be considered – from mechanised forces and artillery to logistics and command and intelligence systems. Drones are one part of this whole, not a solution in themselves.

In recent years, the Estonian Defence Force has actively invested in strengthening its defence capability, including increased defence spending and cooperation with NATO allies to develop new capabilities.