Author: Rainis Vares

Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 76 (30 March–5 April 2026): Frankenburg’s Air-to-Air Breakthrough, Baltic Startup Rankings, and Estonia’s Defence Boom

This issue leads with a world-first air-to-air counter-drone engagement: Frankenburg Technologies’ Mark I missile was launched from Airbus Defence & Space’s Bird of Prey uncrewed interceptor and successfully destroyed a kamikaze drone—creating a new, low-cost “cost curve” for air defence against mass aerial threats. We also publish a new Top…
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Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 73 (9–15 March 2026): Wolfram Europa Emerges, Quantum Systems Buys into HEVI, and Europe Fast-Tracks Anti-Drone Missiles

This issue leads with Wolfram Europa stepping out of stealth and appointing former RKIK chief Magnus-Valdemar Saar as CEO, signalling a push into industrial-scale defence manufacturing including explosives, warheads, and the “bottom layer” capabilities that enable drones and missiles. We also cover how Hanwha’s Estonia investment headlines revealed the reality…
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Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 72 (2–8 March 2026): Hanwha’s €100m Estonia Investment, Tank Assembly in Lithuania, and the Drone-Warfare Reality

This issue’s top story: Hanwha Aerospace will invest ~€100 million in Estonia, including a 40mm ammunition factory (capacity 300,000+ rounds/year) plus a new competence centre for maintenance and upgrades—positioning Estonia as a Nordic-Baltic land-systems hub. We also cover Lithuania’s move to fast-track its Leopard 2A8 tank assembly plant as a…
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Baltic Defence Weekly – No. 64 (5–11 January 2026): Frankenburg–Babcock Air Defence Push, Baltic Ammo Expansion, and Finland’s Air Defence Lessons

This issue opens 2026 with major momentum in Baltic and regional defence. Estonia’s Frankenburg Technologies signs an MoU with UK defence giant Babcock to develop a containerised, low-cost counter-drone air defence launch platform. Latvia breaks ground on the Baltic states’ first 155mm modular powder charge assembly plant, while Rheinmetall advances…
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Baltic Defence Weekly No. 62 (22–28 Dec 2025): 2025 Year in Review — The Baltic Defence Boom, Drone Era Lessons, and Europe’s Rearmament Shift

The year-end edition looks back at 2025’s defining defence moments across the Baltics and Europe—from landmark events, major procurement and industrial moves, and the accelerating role of drones and counter-drone solutions, to the strategic weight of permanent allied presence and large-scale rearmament decisions. This issue compiles the year’s top developments…
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Baltic Defence Weekly No. 61 (15–21 Dec 2025): Frankenburg Missile Test, Chunmoo Purchase, and the Rise of Battlefield-Proven Innovation

This week’s edition spotlights Frankenburg Technologies’ Mark 1 counter-drone missile test at NATO’s Ādaži base in Latvia—an important signal in Europe’s push for scalable, cost-effective air defence. We report on Estonia’s €290m Chunmoo rocket launcher purchase paired with Hanwha industrial investment, Lithuania’s move toward next-generation capability via CV90 MkIV procurement,…
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NORDSEC is excited to be part of the 2026 SSD Expo as executive partner

NORDSEC is a leading cluster within Defence, Dual-use, Security and Preparedness, and our participation on SSD aligns with our member companies’ international ambitions. Initiatives from the Baltic region will continue to be part of our international foot print as we gain momentum towards the international defence industry market. Our pavilion…
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Baltic Defence Weekly No. 60 (8–14 Dec 2025): Leopard 2A8 Assembly in Lithuania, CAESAR Mk II Deal, and Baltic–German Defence Ties

This issue tracks a major leap in Baltic defence industrial capacity: a German-backed plan to assemble Leopard 2A8 tanks in Lithuania and Lithuania’s €252m CAESAR Mk II artillery purchase. We also cover a record Estonian defence-tech delegation to Berlin, new DefSecIntel–TYTAN counter-drone cooperation, and leaders’ pledge to deliver Rail Baltica…
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Baltic Defence Weekly – Issue 56 (10–16 November 2025): Bundeswehr at 70, Drone Walls, and Europe’s Robotics Race

This week’s issue marks the 70th anniversary of the Bundeswehr, featuring the full speech by Germany’s Defence Attaché to Estonia and an editorial on why Baltic defence cooperation matters now more than ever. Other highlights include Quantum Systems’ expansion to Lithuania, Israel’s new embassy and defence business forum in Tallinn,…
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Baltic Defence Weekly – Issue 51 (6–12 October 2025): Tallinn Hosts Global AI Summit, Estonia Launches Force Transformation Command

This week’s issue spotlights the Tallinn Digital Summit, where world leaders and tech executives—from Meta to NVIDIA—discussed AI, cybersecurity, and digital resilience. Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister urged nations to focus on cooperation and ready-made solutions, while France’s AI Defence Agency emphasized the urgency of building a true European tech culture.…
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