The acquisition significantly boosts Estonia’s ability to conduct precision long-range strikes and enhances its defensive posture in coordination with the U.S. Army. These systems allow for deeper operational reach and improve interoperability between the two nations.
“We’re much stronger as a team today,” said U.S. Army Maj. Gen. John Rafferty, commanding general of the 56th Artillery Command. “That’s why with this capability, we’re better poised to fight together as a team and deter our adversaries.”
The delivery follows years of joint preparation and training with U.S. soldiers, beginning in 2022 with the rapid deployment of Task Force Voit to Estonia. Since then, Estonian and U.S. troops have trained closely to ensure operational readiness.
“Estonia has matched our commitment multiple times over, with purchases of U.S. equipment that support U.S. jobs and investments in facilities that host our troops here in the country,” said Matt Wall, chargé d’affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Tallinn.
The U.S. approved the sale of HIMARS to Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in 2022 amid growing NATO demand for advanced defensive systems. Estonia’s six HIMARS units were shipped from Lockheed Martin’s Camden, Arkansas, facility on 13 January 2025.
The delivery was supported by the European High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Initiative (EHI), led by U.S. V Corps, which aims to improve interoperability and capability across European allies. EHI also complements broader defence assistance and fielding efforts.
“I would like to thank our U.S. allies for giving us the opportunity to prepare for this day,” said Estonia’s Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur. “For giving us the opportunity to train our professional soldiers and our reservists to be ready to operate these HIMARS.”
Tallinn hosted the fifth EHI summit on 15–16 January 2025, gathering military leaders to coordinate HIMARS integration across NATO forces. “From my point of view, sharing the artillery system is very important for the allied NATO partners,” said Maj. Gen. Maciej Jablonski, V Corps deputy commanding general of interoperability.
Maj. Gen. Rafferty called the delivery “a pivotal moment in the defence of Estonia, in the defence of the Baltics, and in NATO deterrence.” The move is part of broader efforts to strengthen NATO’s eastern flank amid regional security concerns.
Estonia plans to raise its defence spending to 5.4% next year and continue pursuing further defence acquisitions. “President Trump has taken decisive action to ensure the United States maintains a dynamic defence industrial base, which requires a robust network of capable partners like our allies here in Estonia,” said Wall.
The new HIMARS systems are expected to be operational by this summer, with Estonian soldiers already trained for rapid deployment. “In essence, by training the Estonians, we’ve enabled them to be able to use the systems effectively 24 hours after they received them,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Underwood, chief of the Office of Defense Cooperation in Tallinn.
