TSAMTO, February 13. The Estonian Armed Forces are currently implementing the second stage of the program for the purchase of medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems, in which leading foreign suppliers participate.
According to Priit Soosaar, a representative of the Estonian Defense Investment Center (ECDI), six applicants entered the second round of the competition for the supply of air defense systems. It is expected that a decision on the choice of a supplier will be made in the spring.
P. Soosaar clarified that the Estonian Armed Forces initially did not exclude any of the countries from the list of applicants for the purchase, with the exception of Russia, the Republic of Belarus and the DPRK. The plans include the acquisition of the complex based on their criteria of the lowest cost and the best technical characteristics.
To the question whether Estonia will take into account the consent of the manufacturing country to transfer weapons to Ukraine when choosing, P. Soosaar answered in the negative. The system is being purchased to protect Estonia, so the possibility of obtaining permission to re-export it will not affect the decision.
Since there are currently no medium-range air defense systems in service with the Armed Forces of Estonia and the Armed Forces of Latvia, last summer the authorities of the two countries decided to proceed with their joint purchase. In June 2022, at the NATO summit in Madrid, the Defense Ministers of Estonia and Latvia signed a protocol of intent on the joint purchase of medium-range air defense systems. In July, the Estonian Defense Investment Center (ECDI) and the Latvian Ministry of Defense signed a joint procurement agreement. The ECDI representative confirmed that the procurement project is still being carried out jointly with Latvia.
At the end of July 2022, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur announced that Estonia could receive its own medium-range air defense system in three years. The decision to allocate the funds necessary for the purchase was made by the Government of the country during the formation of the state budget in September 2022.
Currently, the Estonian Armed Forces, together with Poland, are purchasing portable anti-aircraft missile systems (MANPADS) "Perun". The contract was signed in September 2022. The first deliveries are scheduled for the second half of this year.
The Estonian Armed Forces are already armed with the Mistral short-range air defense system, as well as towed ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft installations.
As reported by TSAMTO, the Estonian Armed Forces have prepared requirements for a new medium-range air defense system in mid-2022. When purchasing, first of all, the requirements of the Armed Forces of the country are taken into account, and the experience of using air defense systems in combat operations in Ukraine is also evaluated.
The procurement process on behalf of the defense departments of the two countries will be carried out by the ECDI center, which conducted a comprehensive market research, compiled procurement documentation and published information on joint purchases with Latvia.
According to the representative of the center, the SAM will include launchers, radars and control points, as well as other components. The mobile system must ensure the defeat of aerial targets, including airplanes, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles and barrage ammunition, at a range of at least 30 km.
