Estonia has launched a new education center in Tartu to train military officers at a permanent site for the first time.
The infrastructure serves as Tallinn’s solution to the constant transfer of its defense courses in the past decade due to an effort to move forward from obsolete training bases.
Located in the town of Raadi, the four-story building incorporates atrium classrooms, dormitories, study areas, and storage facilities.
It also includes an administrative building and a medical center for standard trainee care and disaster response.
The entire school will be able to house about 570 people during operations.
Estonian Defence Academy Education Department Head Nele Rand highlighted that the decision to establish a military training site at the Tartu training site “has a very practical and meaningful positive value” for the nation and its warfighters.
“The need for a new educational building was caused by the concentration of educational activities of the entire Estonian officer and non-commissioned officer corps in Tartu,” Rand explained.
“The training of our officers and non-commissioned officers would take place on the same basis, principles and in an integrated manner, and the cooperation of non-commissioned officers and officers in both peacetime and wartime would take place smoothly and with mutual understanding.”
Built With Local Contractor
The Estonian Centre for Defence Investments partnered with Embach Ehituse, a subsidiary of local builder Nordecon, to complete the defense academy.
“Thanks to good cooperation with a professional client, the buildings were completed on time, despite the athletic construction schedules,” Embach Ehituse Board Member Andres Salusaare stated.
Estonia outlined in its National Defence Comprehensive Development Plan that modern bases for the country’s warfighters will be distributed across Miinisadam, Tapa, Jõhvi, Võru, and Ämari in addition to Tartu.
Works to produce related infrastructure began in the 2010s, with the Taara installation in Võru receiving one of the initial upgrades under the program.
Since its introduction, the Estonian development effort has built multiple guard stations, barracks, equipment depots, offices, and assembly areas with Nordecon’s assistance.
Recent Projects
Estonia received funds in February 2024 to complete a modernization initiative on a Soviet-era military airbase in the country’s northern region.
A month earlier, the government revealed a framework to establish a new domestic ammunition factory that will supply future weapons requirements and foreign military sales.
In December 2023, Estonia announced the expansion of a base in Sirgala to support live-fire training for larger tactical vehicles.