Estonian Major General Sirel: Drone capability is only a fraction of what Estonia must develop

Estonian Defence Forces division commander Major General Indrek Sirel stated that while drone capability development is important, it represents only a small portion of the broader defence sector development Estonia needs to pursue. Sirel made the comments during an appearance on the television programme 'Esimene stuudio'.

Estonian Defence Forces division commander Major General Indrek Sirel has urged against overemphasising drone development at the expense of the wider defence picture. Speaking on the Estonian television programme Esimene stuudio, Sirel stressed that drones are just one piece of a far larger puzzle that Estonia's military must solve.

«Drone capability is only a fraction of what Estonia's defence sector needs to develop,» Sirel said, cautioning that while unmanned systems are a valuable and growing part of modern warfare, placing disproportionate focus on them risks neglecting other critical areas of military readiness.

Sirel's remarks come at a time when drone warfare has taken centre stage in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, prompting many European nations to accelerate their own unmanned systems programmes. Estonia has been among the countries closely watching these developments and adapting its own defence planning accordingly.

However, the division commander's message was clear: a balanced and comprehensive approach to defence development is essential. This includes not only unmanned systems but also conventional forces, logistics, intelligence, cyber capabilities, and broader military infrastructure — all of which require sustained investment and attention.