Estonia receives six HIMARS missile systems from the United States
The US defence company Lockheed Martin has handed over six M142 HIMARS missile systems to Estonia, the State Defence Investment Centre (RKIK) has announced.
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The handover ceremony for the new MLRS took place in Arkansas, USA. The launchers will be delivered to Estonia by sea in the spring, and the country's Defence Forces will start using them in early summer.
The HIMARS procurement contract was signed in December 2022 after a lengthy market analysis and almost a year of formal activities. Thanks to the preliminary training, the Estonian military will be ready to use the new equipment immediately.
HIMARS for Estonia. Illustration: RKIK
The agreement includes not only the supply of launchers, but also GMLRS rocket-propelled munitions, communications equipment, personnel training, as well as logistical and technical support. Estonia will also receive M57 ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles with a range of up to 300 km.
This purchase is one of the largest for Estonia, with a total contract value of over $200 million. HIMARS will significantly enhance the capabilities of the Estonian military in countering security threats in the region.
In early 2023, the defence ministers of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania agreed to share HIMARS. In total, the Baltic states have ordered 20 launchers from the United States, armed with both rockets and short-range tactical ballistic missiles.
Source: RKIK
