NATO forces have shot down an unidentified drone flying over American military barracks in southern Estonia, according to the Estonian daily Postimees. Two drones were reportedly detected near a NATO base housing U.S. troops, with one successfully neutralized by allied forces.
Incident Near the 2nd Infantry Brigade
The event occurred on October 17, when Estonian and NATO defense personnel detected two unidentified aerial vehicles near the campus of the Estonian Defence Forces’ 2nd Infantry Brigade. One of the drones was taken down using specialized anti-drone rifles, as confirmed by the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF).
Search Efforts and Unclear Origins
According to EDF spokesperson Liisa Vaksmann, Estonian security services participated in the search for the drone wreckage. However, despite extensive efforts, the remains of the downed UAV have not been located in the presumed crash area.
Vaksmann also emphasized that details about such security-related incidents are not made public:
“The EDF does not comment in detail on incidents related to security,” she told Postimees.
Rising Tensions in the Region
The incident adds to growing concerns in the Baltic region about aerial incursions and hybrid threats. Estonia, which borders Russia, has strengthened its air defense systems and intelligence coordination with NATO allies following multiple reports of drone activity along its eastern frontier.
While the origin and purpose of the drones remain unknown, defense analysts warn that such intrusions could be part of broader reconnaissance or psychological operations aimed at testing NATO’s response mechanisms.
As of now, NATO has not released an official statement on the incident, and investigations into the drones’ origin continue.
