Written by Tamara Blagojevic, SpaceWatch.Global
Estonia, long recognized for its digital resilience, put its space, cyber, and defense capabilities on full display at the Trade Estonia side event during the Space Tech Expo in Bremen. The event gathered companies and governmental stakeholders to highlight Estonia’s growing role in Europe’s strategic space and defense ecosystem — from cyber ranges and satellite collision analysis to AI-enabled robotics and advanced counter-drone systems.
For Estonia, digitalization is not just a buzzword. It is the foundation of security, innovation, and economic growth. The country’s experience in cyber defense, dating back to the 2007 attacks, has shaped a generation of companies capable of merging software, hardware, and space technologies to meet modern threats.
Estonia’s Strategic Approach: Cyber Meets Space
Roomet Sõrmus, Economic Advisor at the Estonian Embassy in Berlin, opened the event by highlighting Estonia’s strong digital and cybersecurity infrastructure. He emphasized that the nation’s small size is an advantage, allowing agile responses to emerging threats and rapid adoption of technology.
“Estonian companies entering Germany must learn to talk about the weather, cars, football… and go for dinner,” Sõrmus joked. “Persistence and repeated engagement are key to success.”
Sõrmus framed Estonia’s approach as one of trusted partnerships and incremental growth, highlighting that collaboration — whether with Germany, Switzerland, or neighboring Baltic states — is central to the nation’s innovation strategy.
During the event, a short ESA video was played, in which Director General Dr. Josef Aschbacher emphasized the agency’s strong relationship with Estonia. He highlighted Estonia as “an important and precious… member state with unique capabilities and Europe’s cyber champion perspective,” describing the cooperation between ESA and Estonia as “close, effective and successful.”
Company Spotlights: From Cyber Ranges to Autonomous Systems
The event showcased leading Estonian companies, each offering unique contributions to the European space and defense ecosystem:
- DefSecIntel Solutions – Estonia’s leading defense technology company, delivering combat-proven, end-user-driven solutions for border security, defense, and critical infrastructure protection. Its Drone Wall initiative represents a cutting-edge multilayer detection and response network, while its EIRSHIELD counter-drone platform integrates radar, RF, EO/IR, and acoustic sensors for rapid deployment in military and civilian environments.
- CR14 – Europe’s largest cyber range, offering advanced cyber training, testing, and validation. With over 27 operational space cyber ranges, CR14 partners with NATO and European defense projects to enhance digital resilience.
- Cybernetica – Pioneers in secure computing for space, Cybernetica leverages digital identity, secure computing, and privacy-preserving algorithms for satellite operations. Its ESA project Shearson allows secure satellite collision probability calculations without sharing sensitive data.
- 5.0 Robotics – Mobile robotic manufacturing units capable of field production and repair, enabling operational flexibility for defense, industrial, and space applications.
- Nortal – Experts in digital transformation and platform-agnostic cybersecurity, including GNSS protection, secure networks, and ESA partnerships.
- Vaal Airships – Stratospheric balloon systems for microgravity experiments and dual-use payload delivery, providing flexible platforms for high-altitude scientific and operational missions.
- CybExer – CybExer is the key cyber range technology partner of the European Space Agency and a pioneer in cybersecurity for the space domain. CybExer provides advanced cyber ranges and digital twins for national level cybersecurity training.
The common thread among these companies is their integration of space, cyber, and defense technologies, demonstrating Estonia’s capacity to deliver modular, scalable, and interoperable solutions for Europe.
Jaan Hein: Estonia’s Cyber and Space Foundations
Jaan Hein, Vice President for Governmental Programs at DefSecIntel Solutions, provided perspective on Estonia’s broader ecosystem.
“Estonia is making progress step by step,” he said. “On the company level, development goes much faster than on the state level — and that is normal. Everything connected to digital and cyber is very strong in Estonia. This is what we can offer to the world.”
He emphasized the importance of software, integration, and multinational collaboration:
“Cyber is connected to defense… software gives flexibility to bring together different nations, specialists, and experts.”
For Hein, Estonia’s strength lies in combining autonomous systems, software development, and cyber expertise. He described DefSecIntel’s early experience in border surveillance, where mobile, autonomous, and universal systems were designed to operate in remote areas with minimal supervision.
Jaanus Tamm: Europe’s Drone and Hybrid Threat Landscape
Upon the event, we had the privilege to conduct a more in-depth interview with Jaanus Tamm, President and CEO of DefSecIntel Solutions, whose company has been at the forefront of drone defense, border security, and critical infrastructure protection.
Assessing Europe’s Threat Landscape
“Hostile drones and broader hybrid threats in Europe are growing faster than ever,” Mr. Tamm said. “As we have seen in Ukraine, drones are no longer isolated systems. They are mass-produced, low-cost, and rapidly evolving, influencing both battlefields and civilian infrastructure. We are now seeing threats from borders to ports, military bases, energy grids, and even ground-based space infrastructure.”
To address these challenges, DefsecIntel Solutions initiated the Baltic Drone Wall in 2025 with partners from the Estonian Defence Cluster and other Baltic countries.
“The Drone Wall is an ecosystem — a shared detection and response network able to identify and mitigate drone threats before they become strategic risks,” Mr. Tamm explained.
Dual-Use Technology: EIRSHIELD
DefSecIntel’s EIRSHIELD platform demonstrates the company’s dual-use approach:
- Integrates radar, RF, EO/IR, and acoustic sensors for real-time drone detection.
- Supports multiple effector types (soft-kill and hard-kill) and open architecture for rapid sensor integration.
- Protects military units, bases, and critical infrastructure while also safeguarding civilian assets, airports, and events.
“EIRSHIELD is a ready-to-deploy system shaped by lessons from Ukraine,” Jaanus Tamm said.
International Cooperation
DefsecIntel Solutions maintains partnerships across Europe, particularly in the Baltics and Germany, and operates an R&D hub and factory in Ukraine. This provides the company with rapid prototyping and testing capabilities.
“We already work with several German companies and collaborate through the European Defence Fund and ESA projects, strengthening the integration of space-based and counter-drone capabilities,” Mr.Tamm said.
Space and Drone-Defense Integration
Drone defense now relies on ground, air, and space-based systems:
- Satellite-based surveillance provides coverage in areas where ground sensors are limited.
- GNSS spoofing detection ensures navigation resilience.
- Beyond-line-of-sight monitoring uses microsatellite constellations for trajectory modeling and threat analysis.
“The EU has funded civilian space assets — these should also be leveraged for security and defense,” Mr. Tamm emphasized.
Open, Modular Platforms as Strategic Necessity
DefSecIntel’s open systems philosophy allows rapid adaptation to evolving threats, interoperability, and integration of regional innovations.
“Openness is not just technical — it is a strategic necessity for European defense and security, ensuring resilience and avoiding dependence on a single vendor,” Jaanus Tamm said.
Mission and Vision
“Our goal is to demonstrate that Estonian defense technologies are among the most advanced in Europe — combining innovation, adaptability, and combat-proven experience. We aim to deepen cooperation in space-defense technologies and expand the Drone Wall ecosystem,” Mr. Tamm concluded.
“Europe’s security relies on rapid cooperation, trusted technology, and shared awareness. Our mission at Defsecintel Solutions is to connect these elements — from the ground to space — to make Europe safer and more resilient against modern threats.”
Estonia’s Role in Europe’s Space and Defense Ecosystem
The Trade Estonia delegation emphasized that Estonia’s digital, cyber, and space sectors are increasingly intertwined, offering solutions that are scalable, secure, and combat-tested.
- Estonia leverages cybersecurity expertise to support space operations.
- Companies like DefsecIntel Solutions and CR14 integrate AI, autonomous systems, and satellite intelligence into operational platforms.
- Estonia’s flexible, software-driven approach allows rapid response to emerging threats and seamless multinational collaboration.
By combining state support, private innovation, and international partnerships, Estonia continues to punch above its weight in Europe’s strategic technology landscape.
Conclusion: From Digital Prowess to Space-Defense Leadership
The Space Tech Expo Bremen and Trade Estonia side event underscored Estonia’s growing influence in cyber, space, and defense domains. With companies like DefsecIntel Solutions, Cybernetica, CR14, Nortal, 5.0 Robotics, and Vaal Airships leading the charge, Estonia demonstrates that size does not limit strategic impact.
Through modular technology, open architectures, and international cooperation, Estonia is helping Europe build a more resilient, secure, and technologically advanced future, connecting the ground, air, and space domains to defend against modern threats.
Jaanus Tamm is a technology enthusiast with over 20 years of experience in the fields of technology and defence. He has been a co-founder and investor in several IT, homeland security, and defence companies and in many Estonian start-ups. He is currently the CEO of DefSecIntel Solutions, a leading Estonian defence company which he founded in 2018. Jaanus Tamm is recognized as an expert in defence technology and innovation. He is a member of the Supervisory Board of the Estonian Defence and Aerospace Industry Association as well as the Estonian Defence Cluster. In 2024, he was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year, and in 2025, he was awarded the Order of the White Star, IV Class.
Defsecintel Solutions is an Estonian defence company developing and manufacturing mobile autonomous surveillance systems, C-UAS and unmanned surface vessels- all equipped with AI-powered C2. These turn-key solutions are for European border security, coastal surveillance, defence and critical infrastructure protection. The company’s systems are combat-proven and in daily use in Ukraine.
Main products are:
- Mobile autonomous situational awareness system with integrated drone-box SurveilSPIRE
- Vehicle-based rapid intelligence and targeting system with sensors CAIMAN
- Mobile C-UAS AI-assisted turn-key system EIRSHIELD with multi-layer detection, identification and tracking capability and which is equipped with various soft- and hard-kill effectors.
- An unmanned surface vehicle for various naval missions EUROMITE
- AI-powered C2ISR software
- Interceptor drone developed for tactical short- and medium-range defence FREYA.
Defsecintel Solutions is the initiator of the (Baltic) Drone Wall initiative and leading the DroneTex.
