Estonia plans Ukraine-inspired app to help residents track drone threats

The government aims to develop the system within six months, Estonian Defense Minister Martin Herem told public broadcaster ERR.

"We should be able to provide every resident with a more detailed picture. Not just a siren and some kind of message, but the ability to see visually whether a threat is heading toward Krabi or Võru, Kohila or Rapla," Herem said.

He said access to more detailed information would help residents make their own decisions and reduce anxiety.

Learning from Ukraine

Estonia is drawing on Ukraine's experience of warning civilians about Russian drones and missiles. Ukrainian authorities have increasingly provided more geographically specific air raid alerts, while independent applications have emerged to compile and display information about aerial threats.

Dmytro Zhmailo, head of the Ukrainian Security and Cooperation Center, told ERR that Ukraine now issues alerts at the district level and is working toward even more localized warnings based on the movement of aerial targets.

The goal, he said, is both to protect civilians and to prevent Russia from disrupting everyday life.

Estonia's Defense Ministry is considering several technical solutions. Adviser Mati Tikerpuu said funding is available, although the final cost will depend on the partner selected.

He also suggested that some information could eventually be made publicly available, allowing independent developers to create their own tools. The initial priority, however, is a government-developed application.

Separately, Estonia expects to launch a cell broadcast emergency alert system in early 2027. The technology would send warnings to phones connected to cell towers in a designated area within seconds and could override device sound settings, depending on the threat.

The two systems would serve different purposes: one would give residents a visual picture of approaching aerial threats, while the other would rapidly deliver emergency warnings.

Both initiatives reflect Estonia's efforts to improve civilian preparedness as European countries confront the security risks posed by Russian drones.