TSAMTO, May 23. Estonian and Latvian Defense Ministers Hanno Pevkur and Inara Murniece announced on May 21 in Riga their intention to start negotiations with the German company Diehl Defense on the acquisition of the IRIS-T SLM air defense system as part of the joint purchase of medium-range air defense systems.
According to the Estonian Defense Ministry, the countries expect to reach an agreement with Diehl Defense in the near future and officially announce the signing of the contract this summer.
According to I. Murniece, the jointly selected medium-range air defense system should reliably cover the airspace of Latvia and Estonia and ensure the maximum possible protection of the population, as well as civil and military infrastructure facilities.
As reported by TSAMTO, in June 2022, the defense Ministers of Estonia and Latvia at the NATO summit in Madrid signed a protocol of intent on the joint purchase of medium-range anti-aircraft systems. The Estonian Defense Investment Center carries out the procurement procedure on behalf of the defense departments of the two countries.
According to the Estonian Defense Minister, the purpose of the purchase is to provide Estonia with medium-range air defense by 2025. This means that the first SAMs should be delivered in 2024. The Estonian government has already allocated funds for the purchase of medium-range air defense systems as part of the negotiations on the budget for 2022.
The Estonian Defense Investment Center conducted a market research, studied the proposals of six potential foreign applicants. When choosing the winner, criteria such as the technical capabilities of the system, the total cost of the system, the cost of the life cycle for the next 30 years, delivery dates and the possibility of participation in the project of the Estonian and Latvian national industries were evaluated.
The final purchase price will be determined during contract negotiations. The package will include medium-range air defense systems, as well as infrastructure, personnel training, auxiliary equipment and other related costs.
SAMs are designed to defeat aircraft, helicopters, as well as other aerial threats, including unmanned aerial vehicles, cruise missiles and barrage ammunition.
The IRIS-T SLM battery includes a control center, one mobile multifunctional radar, from two to four self-propelled launchers on a wheeled chassis, each of which houses eight TPCs with IRIS-T SLM interceptors. The SAM allows you to hit targets at ranges from 1 to 40 km and altitudes up to 20 km.
Diehl Defense has already transferred two IRIS-T SLM SAMs to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the moment, the transfer of four complexes to the APU has been agreed.
