Estonia weighs light fighter purchase to counter drones

Estonia is reviewing the possible acquisition of light combat aircraft to better protect its airspace against hostile drones. Defence Minister Martin Herem told the newspaper The Baltic Sentinel that the growing capability of attack drones could make dedicated combat aircraft necessary.

Estonia has so far depended largely on the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission for airspace security. In May, a Polish General Dynamics F-16 shot down an attack drone that had strayed over Estonian territory.

Herem described the use of air-to-air missiles as a particularly effective way of countering drones. Whether turboprop aircraft would be sufficient for that task, or whether light jets are needed, still has to be assessed, he said. Remotely controlled guns and heavy machine guns are also under consideration.