Infantry remain central, Estonian MoD says, after shelving IFVs purchases for drones 

Estonian officials say infantrymen remain central to holding ground on the modern battlefield after shelving the country’s infantry fighting vehicle procurement to boost investment in drones and air defence. 

Tallinn decided at the start of April to suspend a programme to acquire new infantry fighting vehicles, freeing up more than €500 million for investment in air defence, drones, and other emerging capabilities.

“The war in Ukraine has shown that the importance of unmanned systems and air assets has increased,” a spokesperson from the Joint Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces told Euractiv on Monday. “As a small country with limited funds, we have to look closely at where and how we spend, to get the best results and bolster other critical capabilities.”

While lessons from Ukraine have underscored the growing urgency of drones over some traditional platforms, officials stress that conventional infantry forces remain central. “Positions are still controlled…