On December 2, 2022, the Director General of the State Defense Investment Center of the Ministry of Defense of Estonia (Riigi Kaitseinvesteeringute Keskus - RKIK) Magnus-Valdemar Saar signed with the Director of the US Department of Defense Agency for Military Cooperation (Defense Security Cooperation Agency - DSCA) By James A. Hersh, an agreement in the form of an exchange of letters LOA (Letters of Offer and Acceptance) on the purchase by Estonia through the US program of intergovernmental foreign military sales Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) ground-based missile systems manufactured by Lockheed Martin Corporation, including missile ammunition.
A combat vehicle 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 EstoniaEstonia has purchased six combat vehicles of the M142 HIMARS complex, as well as "a set of missiles of various actions, the range of which is from 70 to 300 km" (that is, from GMLRS to ATACMS).
The start of deliveries to the Estonian armed forces is scheduled for 2024. The cost of the purchase from the Estonian side is indicated as "more than $ 200 million". In addition, it is reported that the program for the purchase of HIMARS complexes by Estonia is co-financed by the United States, which, for its part, contributes another $ 140.5 million.
Recall that on July 15, 2022, the US Department of Defense Agency for Military Cooperation (DSCA) sent a notification to the US Congress about the planned upcoming sale of HIMARS missile systems to Estonia through the American FMS program at the request of the Estonian government, while the total cost of the proposed delivery was indicated at $ 500 million, including missiles, and training and technical support packages. support.
According to the notification, Estonia's delivery was to 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. It was also planned to include practical M28A2 LCRRPRP missiles, fire control and communication systems, and other related equipment in the delivery.
The acquisition of HIMARS rocket complexes is carried out by Estonia as part of a joint project with Latvia and Lithuania. Even 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 in the period after 2025. In fact, this meant the purchase of American HIMARS missile systems.
With the beginning of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine, the acquisition of HIMARS complexes by the Baltic republics was accelerated. In addition, the Baltic States, along with HIMARS missile systems, will also be supplied with 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.
On November 9, 2022, DSCA issued a notification about the upcoming delivery of HIMARS missile systems to Lithuania. The notification involves the delivery of eight M142 HIMARS combat vehicles and a set of missiles, almost completely identical in composition to the Estonian one. The total estimated cost of delivery to Lithuania is stated at $495 million.
Estonia became the eighth foreign customer of HIMARS missile systems after Singapore, the UAE, Jordan, Romania, Poland, Ukraine and Australia.
jpg" title="Signed by the Director General of the State Defense Investment Center of the Ministry of Defense of Estonia (Riigi Kaitseinvesteeringute Keskus - RKIK) Magnus-Valdemar Saar and the Director of the US Department of Defense Agency for Military Cooperation (Defense Security Cooperation Agency - DSCA) James A. Hersh signed an agreement on the purchase of HIMARS ground-based missile systems by Estonia through the US program of intergovernmental Foreign Military Sales (FMS). 02.12.2022">
Signed by Magnus-Valdemar Saar, Director General of the State Defense Investment Center of the Ministry of Defense of Estonia (Riigi Kaitseinvesteeringute Keskus - RKIK) and Director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) of the US Department of Defense James A. Hersh signed an agreement on the purchase of HIMARS ground-based missile systems by Estonia through the US program of intergovernmental Foreign Military Sales (FMS). 02.12.2022 (c) RKIK
