Estonian company Meridein Group is set to build a high-capacity unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) production plant to bolster the Baltic region’s defense capabilities, local outlet ERR reported.

The facility will be capable of producing up to 2,000 drones per day. The exact location of the plant has not been disclosed.

The first drones are expected to roll off the production line by the first half of 2026. Initial output will include first-person view and reconnaissance UAVs, as well as strike drones.

Security Through Growth

The Baltic countries have ramped up their surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities following increased airspace breaches due to Russian military activity.

In April, NATO members intercepted multiple Russian aircraft flying close to the Baltic Sea. At one point, airmen stationed in Poland escorted Russian planes three times in only two days.

To counter airspace disturbances, Latvian defense startup Origin Robotics unveiled BLAZE, an autonomous, AI-driven and man-portable radar detection system capable of neutralizing threats through direct impact.

Lithuania has also agreed to build a “drone wall” to defend its borders, collaborating with five other NATO members to use UAVs that will line up and stretch all the way from Norway to Poland.