In Tallinn, Estonia, drone start-ups shifted focus to military uses after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The small Baltic nation heavily backed Ukraine’s defense until April 2024, giving aid as a percentage of GDP second only to Denmark. Estonian companies, including Milrem and Krattworks, provided aid to Ukraine. Milrem’s robotic vehicles, called THeMIS, were sent to Ukraine with packages for evacuating wounded soldiers and route clearance.
Ukraine’s military provided feedback to Milrem, requesting more ballistic protection, night vision capabilities, and counter-jamming technology for the vehicles. The autonomous navigation of THeMIS allows the vehicle to operate without a signal from its operators. Estonia faces challenges of managing feedback and improving drones sent to Ukraine in their small office in Tallinn.
Krattworks also contributed to supporting Ukraine, offering their Ghost Dragon quadcopter at a reduced cost. The company encountered unexpected problems at first due to Russian jamming and product design issues. After multiple trips to Ukraine to test drones, they integrate well with Ukrainian software and are now used effectively.
Both companies emphasized an interest in non-Ukraine sales. Milrem’s focus is on robotics in militaries, but challenges remain in incorporating autonomous vehicles into doctrine, logistics, and maintenance procedures. The future of autonomous vehicles in warfare is yet to be decided.
