The newly acquired Scania trucks will partly replace the ageing DAF 2300 series, signalling a modernisation of Estonia’s defence logistics.
“This marks a new era where the Defence Forces will no longer have to rely solely on second-hand equipment from allies, but will serve the country with new, modern vehicles,” said Erko Sepri, Strategic Category Manager at the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI).
The deliveries form part of a Baltic-wide initiative, signed earlier this year, which aims to supply over 3,000 new vehicles to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, marking Scania’s largest defence contract in the region to date.
The new Scania G410 trucks, featuring advanced driver assistance systems and components built by Estonian firm GoCraft OÜ, are designed for both reliability and ease of maintenance, as they closely resemble civilian logistics trucks.
“The introduction of these vehicles improves sustainability, addressing challenges around spare parts for older equipment, while presenting new demands for repair personnel,” explained Major Raigo Puusepp, Chief Technician of the Defence Forces.
This first delivery represents only part of a much larger vehicle procurement plan, with future deliveries including both road-logistical and off-road tactical vehicles. Suppliers beyond Scania include Veho Eesti and Volvo Defence AB, underlining the breadth of this military modernisation programme. Scania has already proven its ability to meet the complex needs of the defence forces, delivering vehicles with rapid production times and customisation for military use.
The EUR 693 million framework agreement not only benefits the Estonian Defence Forces but also extends to the Defence League, Police and Border Guard Board, and Latvian Ministry of Defence and its agencies.
Source: Estonia Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI).
