Estonia has installed the first fixed drone detection and monitoring systems on three sections of the land border in the south-east of the country. This is the section between the Luhamaa border crossing point and the junction of the Estonian, Latvian and Russian borders.
According to the Estonian Ministry of the Interior, such systems are planned to be deployed along the entire land section of the eastern border by the end of the year.
“The first devices have already been installed and are working. This is just the beginning: we are moving towards creating a network that will cover the whole of Estonia. Recent drone incidents show that we have realistically assessed the risks and carefully planned the development of our capabilities. Our eastern border is well protected, and the strengthening of our anti-drone capabilities increases the sense of security for the whole of Europe,” said Estonian Minister of the Interior Igor Taro.
On 29 May, the minister visited the section of the eastern border near the so-called Saatsesi boot, where he familiarised himself with the progress of construction work and the installation of monitoring systems along the Piusa River.
In areas where fixed equipment has not yet been installed or where increased monitoring is required, the Police and Border Guard Department demonstrated the operation of the new mobile surveillance systems.
Taro said border security capabilities are growing, and infrastructure construction and modernisation is on schedule or even ahead of plan.
Now, the Police and Border Guard Department continues to procure equipment for the next sections of the border and prepare for its installation.