- WIADOMOŚCI
Turkish ammunition production in Estonia
Türkiye continues expanding its defence-industrial presence in NATO’s eastern flank. According to ERR, Turkish company ARCA Defence will open ammunition production in Estonia, initially focused on export markets rather than direct deliveries for the Estonian Defence Forces.
The planned factory in Ida-Viru County reflects a broader trend visible across Europe since the beginning of the war in Ukraine: states are attempting to localise ammunition production and strengthen regional industrial resilience. According to ERR, ARCA intends to produce mortar ammunition, rockets and NATO-standard 155 mm M107 artillery shells in Estonia.
At the same time, Estonian officials underline that the country’s armed forces are primarily interested in longer-range ammunition rather than older short-range systems. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that ARCA may eventually expand production towards ammunition with ranges of 30–40 kilometres, which better corresponds with current battlefield requirements and NATO operational standards.
The project also has a broader geopolitical dimension. Türkiye is increasingly positioning itself not only as a military actor inside NATO, but also as an important defence-industrial partner for Central and Eastern Europe. Estonia, meanwhile, continues strengthening its role as one of the most active states on NATO’s eastern flank, particularly in the context of ammunition stockpiling and military preparedness.
ERR also noted that all exports of military equipment produced in Estonia will require approval from the Strategic Goods Commission. This means Tallinn will retain political control over where the ammunition is ultimately delivered, especially given that some of the planned products, such as 122 mm Grad rockets, remain widely used outside NATO, particularly in Asia and Africa.
