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An Estonian defence tech company integrates AI with drones. The war in Ukraine is its test bed. Its technologies will soon guard the EU and NATO border against Russia. Jaanus Tamm, CEO of DefSecIntel Solutions, talks about how their autonomous systems shape the future of warfare.
Integrated systems for automated awareness
DefSecIntel provides integrated autonomous situational awareness and control systems with intelligent AI algorithms. In lay terms, it keeps you current with your surroundings.
The company developed three systems: surveillance platform remote monitoring, which uniquely integrates a drone station with a tower with a camera module, and remote autonomous monitoring stations. Soldiers and border guards use these systems in national parks or at other large structures such as oil refineries.
Second, they provide an ultra-fast and highly accurate mobile surveillance solution equipped with various sensors and integrated into 4×4 vehicles. For example, border guards reacting to smugglers or soldiers on reconnaissance missions use it for rapid reconnaissance missions.
Thirdly, they develop ultra-short-range air defence against drones. This defence can detect, track, and disrupt drones in various ways, and it is more effective than other solutions, such as jamming them or sending out an interceptor drone.
AI powers all these solutions. The cutting-edge AI-assisted C2 software, developed by the DefSecIntel team, detects, classifies, and acts so automatically that even complex systems can be handled by a single operator.
“The war in Ukraine has shown what the warfare of the future will be like. Drones and AI are here to stay. These have changed the decision-making on the battlefield and the speed of action,” says Jaanus Tamm.
“Since drones have been added to the satellites, various Western commanders say that everything can be seen on the battlefield. A drone can ambush anyone. That’s why both awareness and small air defence are becoming inescapably important. We are discussing air defence on every vehicle, even every person.”
“Also, warfare continues to be automated and digitised with the help of AI. Since this creates so much data, a single person cannot process and decide based on it. Decision-making is becoming more and more software-based.”
Mature AI technology allows for new solutions.
According to Mr Tamm, such integrated solutions would not have been possible 6-7 years ago. The computational models were inaccurate, and the computing power was low. When DefSecIntel was created in 2018, the technology was ripe to do something unprecedented.
“Detection may seem easy, but when you start doing it in a real environment, it’s not like that at all,” says Mr Tamm. “For example, it is easy to find what Facebook pictures contain a bicycle, but try to find a car 5 km away in a forest, of which only 30% is visible. It’s an order of magnitude more complicated.”
Globally unique solutions
Around the globe, many companies offer mobile masts. Also, there are many companies providing drones. Every solution that DefSecIntel has developed, based on different end-user needs and lessons learnt from Ukraine, has competitive advantages. The uniqueness of the SurveilSPIRE lies in integrating the two-on-one trailer, drone box, and camera systems and equipping it with an AI-assisted command & control system. Another example is the EIRSHIELD (ultra-short-range air-defence system), which can send out a drone automatically after detecting a drone for closer observation or intercepting it with a net, if necessary.
Other technological innovations exist, too. For example, CAIMAN’s camera and sensor solution for 4×4 vehicles is the only available solution used while driving. This was developed in cooperation with Ukrainians. Their soldiers confirmed that they don’t have time to stop for surveillance in a war situation. Everything has to be done while driving. Such integration of systems is increasingly in demand.
“The end user does not want pieces; they want complete solutions”, says Jaanus Tamm. “We can do this on one platform and integrate several platforms so they share resources, such as drones, to deal with multiple situations simultaneously.”
War in Ukraine as a giant test bed
Until recently, the defence field was complicated and expensive, where large companies developed complex solutions. The war in Ukraine has changed this. Since Ukraine was fought with superior power and limited resources, everything commercially available – sensors, cameras, etc. – was potentially a military component. For example, the FPV drone consists of store-bought or 3D-printable items. The military sets the explosives. But there is no need – and no time – to do ten years of research and development. A 300-euro drone is enough.
Also, electronic warfare is not absolute. For example, it is not possible to suppress radio communications in the entire front. There is a lot of room for experimentation here.
Therefore, the development cycle in defence technologies is extremely fast. A new solution can be developed overnight and sent to the front line in two weeks. That is why, in addition to having the HQ and factory in Tallinn, DefSecIntel has opened a maintenance and development centre in Ukraine. Thus, the end user can provide feedback directly to its employees in Ukraine, and all changes can be made quickly on the spot.
“There are many new defense-tech startups in Estonia. I see a lot of talent at the DefenseTech meetup. People want to help Ukraine and NATO, develop smarter solutions, digitise even more,” says Mr Tamm.
“But war separates the wheat from the chaff. Not everyone succeeds. The pace is breakneck, and you have to provide quality products. Ukrainians dismiss sub-optimal solutions immediately. Our products are combat-proven and in daily use. He adds that Ukraine is a real-life testbed and a good partner for new technological development“ he adds.
Collaboration is the key
In the field of defence, hardly anyone can do everything. In Estonia, DefSecIntel routinely collaborates with 7-8 different start-ups. Various solutions are integrated, taken to the field, and checked to see how well they work.
According to Mr Tamm, Estonia has a startup culture where cooperation is effortless. Conversely, with larger companies, cooperation takes more time and effort. But both types of collaboration are essential.
For example, Jaanus Tamm is on the Council of the Estonian Defense and Aerospace Industry Association, the Estonian Defence Cluster and the Estonian Founders’ Society (a club of prominent start-uppers), and DefSecIntel participates in European R&D projects with the support of the European Defense Fund. In the latter, the concept or prototype is developed in cooperation with large companies for 3-4 years—for example, an uncrewed ship, pan-European data exchange, etc.
“The niches for big and small companies are changing. The big ones make tanks, planes, explosives, etc. Smaller companies deal with drones, software, small missiles, and machines. At the same time, the industry will help the smaller ones with scaling,” says Jaanus Tamm. “Without our talented and excellent team, we would not be able to develop our various solutions in Estonia and Ukraine so agilely,” adds Jaanus, appreciating the DefSecIntel team.
What threats and challenges does the future bring?
Digitisation and drones are making warfare much more electronic. This brings new vulnerabilities, such as cyber risks and sensitivity to EMP weapons. However, the small and agile technology can respond to these challenges.
“If you have a drone that costs 300 euros, even if you fry 1,000 with an EMP charge, you can replace the parts, and you’ll be fine. Compare that to a 3-million-euro rocket. Digitisation makes products cheaper. But, of course, the expensive systems will not disappear either. You also have to fight against the armour,” admits Jaanus Tamm.
In the future, speed and accuracy in product development are becoming increasingly important. The products of DefSecIntel and other Estonian defence technologies are in increasing demand.
In addition to Ukraine, they are used or will be used soon in Estonia, Poland, Georgia, and Moldova. DefSecIntel is guarding the EU/NATO border against Russia.
“I’m glad to see that our innovative solutions are being used on the battlefield and helping to create a more secure world,” adds Jaanus Tamm.
