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NATO Learns From Ukraine—Estonia Adds Drone Protection to Patria APCs
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Estonia’s Armed Forces have begun installing protective cage armor on their Patria armored personnel carriers, reflecting lessons learned from modern battlefield threats, particularly the widespread use of drones.
The Estonian Army’s 1st Infantry Brigade said the upgraded vehicles will be publicly unveiled during the country’s Independence Day military parade on February 24.
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“Every year at the parade we show something new. This year is no exception,” Estonian service members said.
Estonia operates a sizable fleet of domestically fielded Patria armored personnel carriers. According to official data, the army currently has 81 Patria Pasi XA-188 APCs in service, along with 56 Patria Pasi XA-180EST vehicles.
According to Ukrainian military outlet Militarnyi, the XA-188 fleet was acquired under a contract signed with the Netherlands in October 2010, when Tallinn agreed to purchase 81 armored personnel carriers for 320 million Estonian kroons, roughly €20 million at the time.
The XA-180EST vehicles, meanwhile, are former Finnish Army platforms that were later modernized and transferred to Estonia.
Thank you to our 🇫🇮 Finnish friends for helping our boys kick orc ASS.
— Richard Woodruff 🇺🇦 (@frontlinekit) January 26, 2026
The Patria 6x6 armoured personnel carrier in service with the 1st Assault Battalion of the Ukrainian 3rd Assault Brigade pic.twitter.com/htV3f8byRN
The addition of protective cage armor—often referred to as “slat” or “cope cage” protection—is increasingly common among European militaries as armed forces adapt to the growing threat posed by loitering munitions and attack drones.
Estonia has previously indicated plans to further modernize its armored vehicle fleet. In 2020, officials announced intentions to acquire up to 300 next-generation armored personnel carriers from Patria as part of long-term force development.
Ukrainian troops had already modified these vehicles to meet the harsh realities of drone-dominated warfare.
The Patria 6×6 APCs—manufactured in Finland and supplied to Ukraine via Latvia—have been upgraded by soldiers of Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade with additional anti-drone protection, a step that has become increasingly necessary amid Russia’s constant use of attack UAVs.
Earlier, Ukrainian M1A1 Abrams tanks supplied by Australia received extensive anti-drone upgrades and have already seen combat near Pokrovsk.
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