Estonia Seeks Legal Changes to Enhance Defense Industry

21 December, 2023 THeMIS Combat UGV from the Estonian company. Photo credits: Milrem Robotics The Estonian Minister of Defense, Hanno Pevkur, has sent for approval an intention to draft amendments to the Weapons Act and the Explosives Act.

ERR reported on this. The purpose of the amendments is to clarify the requirements related to the production of weapons and ammunition and to create more favorable legal conditions for the development of the defense industry and the contribution of enterprises to the state defense. The Estonian Ministry of Defense points to a number of problems that need to be addressed by changing laws.

For example, companies involved in arms and ammunition transport are currently subject to citizenship requirements, according to which only persons with EU and NATO countries' citizenship can be owners and managers of the company.

Estonian defense industry booth at the Abu Dhabi exhibition. Photo from open sources

"In practice, this approach hinders the development of the defense industry. Of course, the activities of citizens of aggressor countries in Estonia should be excluded, but citizens of countries that maintain friendly relations with Estonia and cooperate in the field of defense should be given the opportunity to be a shareholder or member of the governing body of an enterprise licensed to operate in Estonia," explained Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.

The Ministry of Defense also wants to reduce bureaucratic red tape in the development of the defense industry. Currently, companies wishing to produce ammunition must obtain a license for the activity and the place of production under the Weapons Act and the Explosives Act, as the production of ammunition is usually accompanied by the circulation of explosives. According to the Ministry of Defense, instead of two licenses with similar functions, there could be one.

Estonian defense industry booth at the Abu Dhabi exhibition.

Photo from open sources

Militarnyi reported on December 16, 2023 that another batch of K9 self-propelled howitzers was delivered to Estonia from South Korea. Previously, Estonia had already received 18 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers, which were named K9 Kou (Thunder). Thus, Estonia already has 24 such howitzers.

This has significantly improved the firepower of the Estonian Defense Forces.