Tallinn. September 17. INTERFAX - During the negotiations on the state budget held this week, the Estonian government decided to allocate funds for the creation of a medium-range air defense system by 2025.
"In order to provide Estonia with a functional medium-range air defense capability by 2025, the contract must be signed no later than the first quarter of 2023 and the first systems should arrive in Estonia in 2024. Investments and the exact cost will be disclosed after the end of the procurement process," Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said on Saturday.
"The purchase price includes medium-range air defense systems, infrastructure, personnel, training, equipment and other related costs. The exact figures will be known when the purchase is completed. I can say that this amount reaches hundreds of millions of euros," Pevkur added.
The air defense system is being purchased jointly with Latvia, with which a protocol of intent on collective procurement was signed last year.
According to Pevkur, "from the point of view of regional security, it is important that the systems of the two countries be compatible, this will allow us to better organize air defense, save money, establish joint training, organize supplies and logistics."