TSAMTO, June 10. In early June, the United States delivered $ 14.9 million worth of 155-mm artillery ammunition to the Estonian Armed Forces, and $ 2.7 million worth of AN/TSQ – 288 mobile radars to the Estonian Navy to support the country's defense capabilities and increase situational awareness at sea.
This was announced on June 8 by the US Embassy in Estonia.
Over the next few weeks, the US Navy will provide training for Estonian Navy personnel in the use of radar.
The supply of ammunition and radars was funded under the Building Partner Capacity Program (BPC) The United States European Command as part of the appropriations for fiscal years 2018 and 2019. As noted, the supply of ammunition and radar will strengthen US-Estonian defense cooperation, while ensuring interoperability between the NATO allies.
The supply of artillery ammunition and radar for the Estonian Armed Forces is one of several projects implemented under the BPC program in Estonia. These projects are funded by the US Department of Defense to support Estonia's efforts to strengthen the country's defense capability.
According to the embassy, from 2015 to 2020, the United States provided and continues to implement programs of assistance to Estonia in the field of security in the amount of more than $ 240 million.
In 2021, the financing of security assistance programs for Estonia will exceed $ 50 million and will include the supply of air and missile defense systems, aircraft repair and fire fighting equipment, information gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, radio communication systems, and coastal surveillance systems. More than $ 40 million is provided through the U.S. Department of Defense's BPC program, and $ 10 million is provided through the U.S. Department of State's Foreign Military Funding (FMF) program.
The US Department of State also allocates $ 1.2 million annually to train Estonian military cadets in the US under the International Military Education and Training (IMET) program.