Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine and the Estonian Defence and Aerospace Industry Association sign a cooperation agreement

The Ministry of Strategic Industries of Ukraine and the Estonian Defence and Aerospace Industry Association signed a cooperation agreement.

This is stated in the Association’s message.

The signing of the agreement is a continuation of the successful cooperation on a broader scale, in which Estonian defense companies have been contributing to the development of Ukraine’s defense capabilities for some time.

It is reported that ten Estonian defense companies are already working in Ukraine, providing a wide range of services, from sensors and surveillance equipment to unmanned platforms and field hospitals.

More than 40 different positions were developed in cooperation with the Ukrainian Defense Forces with the consideration of Ukraine’s needs and wishes.

Until now, cooperation with Ukraine has been executed directly with units or through international partners. The new agreement provides the Estonian defense industry with direct access to Ukrainian government agencies, strengthening bilateral relations.

The signed agreement covers both the development of technologies and their transfer. It offers opportunities for better cooperation with the Ukrainian defense industry.

In December, Militarnyi reported that Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur had sent for approval an intention to develop draft amendments to the Law on Weapons and the Law on Explosives.

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 national 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 trafficking are currently subject to a citizenship requirement, according to which only persons with EU and NATO citizenship can be the company’s owners and managers.

Estonia also wants to reduce bureaucratic red tape in the development of the defense industry.