The proposed system is intended to protect Estonian territory from high-speed missile threats such as Russia’s Iskander-M, which can reach targets within minutes. Estonia currently lacks the capability to intercept such missiles, making the acquisition a top strategic priority.
Three systems are under consideration: the American-made Patriot, Israel’s David’s Sling, and the Franco-Italian SAMP/T. The Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (RKIK) is leading the technical analysis and is expected to present its findings by early April.
Mati Tikerpuu, category manager at RKIK, stated: “We are going to procure long-range air defence, with capabilities against ballistic missiles.” He added that no decision has yet been made on whether to proceed with a joint procurement or national purchase.
The initiative follows Estonia’s largest-ever defence contract signed in 2023—€400 million for three German-made IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defence systems, which are due to be delivered in phases from late 2024 to 2025. These systems, however, do not provide protection against ballistic missiles.
Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur has stressed the urgency of the new procurement due to growing international demand for air defence systems. “We are talking about very large sums, and the exact cost will depend on the final solution, but certainly we are speaking of more than a billion euros,” Pevkur said.
He also noted that rapid procurement is essential because “everyone in the world wants to buy these systems.” Estonia is looking at options for cooperation with international partners, including joint purchasing, to help reduce costs and improve delivery times.
The long-range missile defence capability would be a first for Estonia and represents a significant step in strengthening NATO’s eastern flank. Final decisions on the chosen system and supplier are expected later this year, once technical assessments and procurement planning are complete.
Source: ERR.
