Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur described the development as a transformative step for national defence. “I’m very pleased that Estonia, in cooperation with our largest and most strategically important NATO ally, the United States, has brought our independent defense capability into a completely new era,” he stated.
Minister Pevkur also emphasised the strength of bilateral ties, adding, “The U.S.’s crucial role in both financing the procurement and training our defense personnel confirms once again that Estonia and the United States share a broad and deeply rooted defense partnership based on unwavering trust and common goals.”
They’re here! From 🇺🇸 to 🇪🇪, #WeAreNATO #StrongerTogether pic.twitter.com/itkindt5MX
— MoD Estonia (@MoD_Estonia) April 30, 2025
The acquisition comes after more than three years of preparation, including procurement planning and the establishment of a specialised unit. “HIMARS is a joint force development project among the three Baltic states, and today we are starting to see that capability take real shape,” said Magnus-Valdemar Saar, Director General of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI).
Saar noted that similar systems will soon be delivered to Latvia and Lithuania. “While defense procurement cooperation among the Baltic states is close, joint programs of this scale are rare, and we’re pleased that this cooperation involved the United States and Lockheed Martin,” he added.
The HIMARS launchers offer long-range precision strike capability, with the ability to hit targets beyond 300 kilometres. Their high interoperability with NATO systems enables rapid deployment and coordination in multinational operations.
“The arrival of HIMARS systems provides important additional capabilities for fulfilling the division-level tasks of the Defence Forces,” said Major General Indrek Sirel, Commander of the Estonian Division. “Since U.S. HIMARS units are already stationed in Estonia, our soldiers have already undergone training, and now we can move forward with developing and preparing our own HIMARS unit at the division level.”
The acquisition of the six launchers is among Estonia’s most significant defence procurements. “The contract also includes munitions, communication solutions, training, logistics, and lifecycle support. The package features rockets with various ranges,” explained Ramil Lipp, Strategic Category Manager (Armaments) at ECDI.
Funding for the systems was supported by U.S. security assistance as part of efforts to reinforce NATO’s eastern flank. Between 2022 and 2024, U.S. defence support to Estonia rose to $430 million—more than triple the amount provided between 2019 and 2021.
