ARCA Baltic production will be based on 155-mm artillery shells
Photo: ARCA Defense
The Turkish defense company ARCA Defense will build a plant in Estonia. It will mainly produce long-range artillery ammunition. This was stated by the Minister of Defense of Estonia Hanno Pevkur, writes ERR.
Earlier, ARCA officially confirmed a large-scale investment in Estonia and the launch of production of artillery ammunition and missiles under the new ARCA Baltic brand.
The company said it had won a tender for a strategic defense industrial zone in Estonia and had finalized all agreements to establish the plant. Construction has already begun on a land plot of 1.4 million square meters.
The plant in Estonia is planned to be built “as quickly as possible” (12-14 months), Pevkur said. Production lines to be installed in Estonia.
“They are going to produce mainly 155-mm medium and long-range shells at the Estonian plant, i.e. ammunition with a range of more than 30 and 40 km, which the Estonian Defense Forces definitely need,” the minister said.
According to the Estonian government, the investment is about EUR 300 million and will create up to 1,000 jobs. Production should start in 2028.
According to Pevkur, the owners of the Turkish company confirmed in writing last week that they want to start producing long-range ammunition in Estonia, products for the European and American markets.
The commander of the Estonian Defense Forces, Andrus Merilo, emphasized that the country needs long-range ammunition.
“We see this in Ukraine as well,” he said.