On July 15, 2022, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) of the US Department of Defense sent a notification to the US Congress about the planned upcoming sale to Estonia through the US program of intergovernmental foreign military sales Foreign Military Sales (FMS) at the request of the Estonian government of the HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) land-based missile systems manufactured by Lockheed Corporation Martin. This delivery is approved by the U.S. Department of State. The total cost of the proposed delivery will be $ 500 million, including missiles, and training and technical support packages.
Combat vehicles of the American M142 HIMARS missile system from the 169th Field Artillery Brigade of the Colorado National Guard during firing practice on the island of Saaremaa in Estonia during the multinational exercises SIIL-2022, 05/23/2022 (c) Ministry of Defense of Estonia
According to the notification, Estonia's supply should include six M142 HIMARS combat vehicles, up to 36 six-shot transport and launch modules with six GMLRS M30A2 Alternative Warhead missiles with a dissipated warhead in each, up to 36 six-shot transport and launch modules with six GMLRS M31A2 Modular missiles with a monoblock warhead in each, up to 36 six-shot transport and launch modules with six adjustable extended-range missiles ER GMLRS XM403 Alternative Warhead with a dissipated warhead in each, up to 36 six-shot transport and launch modules with six adjustable extended-range missiles ER GMLRS XM404 Unitary with a monoblock warhead in each, and up to 18 operational-tactical missiles ATACMS M57. The delivery will also include practical M28A2 LCRRPRP missiles, fire control and communication systems, and other related equipment.
On the part of bmpd, we recall that in the joint communique adopted following the meeting of the Defense Ministers of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia in Siauliai (Lithuania) on May 21, 2021, among other things, a provision was written on studying the possibility of joint acquisition by the three countries of multiple Launch Rocket systems (Multiple Launch Rocket System) in the period after 2025. In fact, this meant the purchase of American M142 HIMARS missile systems.
According to Baltic sources, now receiving missile systems is expected from 2024. The unconditional news is the intention to immediately sell Estonia, along with the HIMARS missile systems, ATACMS operational and tactical missiles, which was another evidence of the rapid deterioration of the security situation for Russia on its western borders after February 24.
If this notification is implemented by DSCA, Estonia will become the eighth foreign customer of HIMARS missile systems after Singapore, the UAE, Jordan, Romania, Poland, Ukraine and Australia.
