The three Baltic countries that are NATO members, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which border Russia and Belarus, develop at forced marches their industries defensesince the manufacture of classic military material as ammunition and armored vehiclesto drones, high-tech components and computer programs designed for the new era of digital warfare.
At a recent advocacy forum in Riga, Jānis Kažocinsformer brigadier general of the British Army and advisor on security affairs to the last presidents of Latvia, highlighted that the Russian war in Ukraine is increasingly more digital and based in machines that act independently of human drivers or operators.
“Swarm technology may mean we have autonomous ground systemsair and maritime controlled by artificial intelligence algorithms that receive information directly from satellites and other sensors, such as radars, and that are capable of change your location attack or defense thousands of times faster than the best-trained brigade commander,” he said.
Ammunition in Lithuania and armor in Latvia
In Lithuania, the largest of the three Baltic countries, the defense industry is mainly oriented towards electronicslos computer systems and the softwarebut without forgetting the manufacture of “classic” military equipment.
Much of what it manufactures is dual use in areas such as optics, sensors and mapping and surveillance equipment, explained Gediminas Romančikasdirector of the National Defense Industries Associationone of the three Lithuanian industrial groups.
As for hardware or equipment, the German defense contractor Rheinmetall will begin to produce m155 millimeter artillery unit in a plant of a small lithuanian townnear a NATO base, in 2026.
In turn, Patria, the defense company based in Finland, began building its wheeled armored vehicles 6×6 in the Latvian town of Valmiera that are almost entirely assembled there with manufactured metal parts in that Baltic country, declared Mats Warstedt, senior vice president for the nordic countries.
Until now, “all vehicles have been exclusively destined for Latvia, but the intention and capacity of the facilities is that they can also supply them to other countries“he explained.
Robots, logistics and missiles in Estonia
The Estonian Aerospace and Defense Industry Association has more than 146 membersmostly small high-tech companies, but also making battlefield robots for logistics purposes, he explained Kalev Koidumaeresponsible for the organization.
The activities of Estonian defense-related companies range from vehicle maintenance -they work with Swedish-made CV90 armored combat vehicles- until drones, software y surveillance solutions and, more recently, with a startup that makes air defense missiles.
Frankenburg Technologies, headquartered in Estonia with a mixed Estonian, Latvian and Ukrainian management team, recently announced the opening of a London office to develop and manufacture low-cost air defense missiles based on experience gained on the Ukrainian battlefield.
The missiles, which are said to use artificial intelligence (AI), are designed to destroy drones Shahed Iranians that Russia uses to attack targets in Ukraine.
The Estonian defense sector employs about 9,000 workers and last year it generated revenue of 330 million eurosaccording to Koidumae, a retired Army colonel.
“And the forecast for this year is almost 500 million euros“he said, noting that “autonomous cyber robotics, AI solutions, electronic warfare and automation” are the main activities of the association’s companies.
Latvia: 5G for the battlefield and drones
In Latvia, mobile phone services operator Latvian Mobile Telephone (LMT) is developing both digital communications equipment for the battlefield and specialized network services adaptable to military organizations.
Kaspar Pollakdirector of LMT Defense, told EFE that one of the products that LMT has developed is a Information Management System for the Battlefield, but is also working on “making a drone with our experience” in 5G communication, he said.
LMT offers software defined radio, allowing spectrum to be allocated secure 5G to a specific customer, including the military.
According to Pollaks, the company has already developed a 5G base station the size of a backpack a military unit -or NATO allies- can be taken to the field and deployed at their operations area.
