New EMC/RCS Laboratory in Estonia
The EMC/RCS laboratory will become part of Metrosert’s new Drone Technology Unit in Tallinn’s Haabersti district, scheduled to become operational in spring 2027.
The nearly €7 million investment is designed to support developers of drones, defence technologies, autonomous systems, and large-scale integrated platforms throughout the full testing cycle – from laboratory validation to real-world field testing.
The infrastructure will be available for organisations of all sizes – from startups and academic research teams to large industrial manufacturers. It is designed as an independent and neutral testing environment serving the wider ecosystem rather than a single manufacturer or defence company.
A capability currently not available in the region
According to Rainer Kivimäe, Head of the Drone Technologies Unit at Metrosert’s Applied Research Center, the project responds directly to growing regional demand for advanced EMC and radar visibility testing capabilities.
“Market analysis showed that testing centres offering these capabilities are heavily overbooked across Europe. This new capability will help ease that bottleneck and significantly accelerate the transition of developed prototypes into real industrial production,” said Kivimäe.
The laboratory will enable testing of electromagnetic compatibility, radar visibility, and resistance to electromagnetic interference for systems ranging from small electronic devices to large vehicles and integrated defence technologies. According to Metrosert, the combination of EMC and RCS capabilities within a single testing environment remains rare in Europe.
“The need for EMC/RCS capabilities has emerged rapidly due to the changing security environment in Europe. Lessons learned from the war in Ukraine have fundamentally changed how defence technologies are developed, validated, and deployed. Our new laboratory and broader testing infrastructure could shorten development cycles for some technologies from years to months even,” he added.
Kivimäe noted that Estonia’s location adds strategic value to the new facility.
“The changed security environment and the lessons learned from the ongoing war in Europe provide us with the opportunity to incorporate authentic radar and electronic warfare data into our laboratory testing. This allows us to evaluate how systems are detected in real-world conditions and how their visibility can be reduced,” Metrosert’s representative added.
Top-tier project partners
The procurement process attracted several internationally recognised suppliers. The EMC/RCS laboratory contract was awarded to a consortium consisting of ETS-Lindgren Oy and March MicroWave Systems B.V.
“ETS-Lindgren Oy is very excited to be part of this project. Our extensive experience in EMC, combined with Metrosert’s specialized expertise, will greatly benefit future users of the new test laboratory. The team at ETS-Lindgren Oy is fully committed to bringing the project to a successful completion and is already working closely with Metrosert and all stakeholders toward that shared goal,” said JJ Vachoux, Managing Director, Solutions EMEA at ETS-Lindgren Oy.
Part of a comprehensive drone testing centre
The EMC/RCS laboratory is part of Metrosert’s broader Drone Technology Unit, which will bring together laboratories and field-testing infrastructure supporting unmanned systems across air, ground, and maritime domains.
The centre will include EMC/RCS testing capabilities, drive-in climate chambers, ingress protection and corrosion laboratories, vibration and acoustics testing, accelerated lifetime testing, electronics laboratories, and dedicated outdoor testing areas for drones and unmanned systems.
About the company
Metrosert is Estonia’s Research and Technology Organisation (RTO) and National Metrology Institute. Its Applied Research Center focuses on drone technologies, autonomous vehicles, hydrogen technologies, biorefining, and health data. The state-owned organisation employs around 140 specialists.
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