Estonia will build its first military village in the border city of Narva as part of efforts to strengthen its eastern defenses, according to Ando Vugma, project portfolio director at the Estonian Centre for Defense Investment.
Vugma said construction of the military facility will begin at the end of this year and is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2028. The first phase will accommodate 150 troops, while a rotating Defense Forces unit of around 200 personnel will be stationed at the site.
According to the Estonian General Staff, the facility will host a unit from the 1st Infantry Brigade. Although the military village is designed to accommodate up to 1,000 personnel, around 200 soldiers are expected to be permanently deployed there on a rotational basis.
Estonia has significantly increased defense spending, with its 2026 defense budget doubling to €2.4 billion, equivalent to 5.43% of GDP, placing the Baltic state among NATO's highest defense spenders relative to the size of its armed forces.
The Estonian Defense Forces rely on compulsory military service and a rapid reserve-based force. Around 7,100 personnel were serving on active duty in 2026.
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