To strengthen NATO's border: six HIMARS systems arrive in Estonia
On 30 April, Estonia received six HIMARS launchers to strengthen NATO's eastern flank.
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According to Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, this event marks the beginning of a "completely new era" for the country's independent defence capability. He also emphasised the crucial role of the United States in providing both funding and military training.
The project was made possible after three years of planning and the creation of a specialised unit. Magnus-Waldemar Saar, Director General of the Estonian Defence Investment Centre, stressed that HIMARS is a joint initiative of the Baltic States, and similar systems will be delivered to Latvia and Lithuania in the near future.
The arrival of the M142 HIMARS in Estonia. Image: ECDI
The HIMARS systems are capable of accurately engaging targets over 300 kilometres away and are easily integrated into the NATO network. Their mobility and accuracy make them extremely effective for divisional-level missions.
The commander of the Estonian division, Major General Indrek Sirel, said that the military had already completed the relevant training, and the country was now ready to deploy its own HIMARS unit.
The project was implemented with the support of the United States, which provided Estonia with $430 million in security assistance between 2022 and 2024, which is three times more than in the previous three years. HIMARS has become a key element of this support, which aims to strengthen the defence capabilities of the Alliance's eastern borders.
Source: Ministry of Defence of Estonia
