IAI has signed a contract with Estonia for the country to acquire advanced long-range loitering munitions, making it one of the most expensive defense procurements in Estonia’s history.
Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has signed a contract with Estonia for the country to acquire advanced long-range loitering munitions, making it one of the most expensive defense procurements in Estonia’s history. The deal aims to strengthen Estonia’s defense capability by significantly increasing its indirect fire capabilities, along with extended-range artillery ammunition, anti-ship missiles, and multiple launch rocket systems, giving the country various capabilities to influence the adversary from long distances in the near future.
Estonia’s indirect fire capability is currently provided by various caliber mortars in the composition of maneuver units and self-propelled howitzers in divisional composition. The country plans to create multiple rocket launchers and long-range loitering munitions units within the Defense Forces by 2024-2025.
Hanno Pevkur, Defense Minister, Estonian said, “Long-range loitering munitions are an important addition to the development of Estonia’s defense capability. The importance of indirect fire cannot be overestimated, as Russia has caused much of the destruction in Ukraine through indirect fire. The introduction of this new capability allows us to attack the enemy from a longer distance. As a result, indirect fire becomes more layered and flexible, increasing the range of fire, which means that the defense forces can hit the enemy where it hurts.”
Before the procurement of stealth air-launched munitions, thorough market research was conducted to find the most suitable solution for the defense forces’ needs. Estonia’s order focused primarily on achieving long-range offensive capabilities, including precision, munition robustness, and wide-ranging simultaneous offensive capability.
Mr. Levi also added that IAI’s loitering munitions are particularly useful when users seek more flexibility and responsiveness in employing firepower to quickly spot the enemy and act decisively based on the information acquired by the weapon itself in real-time. Loitering munitions are suited for naval or land platforms.
“The market for long-range loitering munitions is currently turbulent,” said Ramil Lipp, armament category manager, Estonian Centre for Defense Investment (ECDI). “Recent conflicts such as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the ongoing war in Ukraine have demonstrated the high effectiveness of this type of offensive weapon, leading to the development of such systems by several countries, with new players expected to enter the market soon. The future of this market will certainly involve intense competition, and the coming years will reveal where these systems will further evolve.”Currently, we have made orders for long-range weapons which we cannot disclose the exact specifications of, but in the future, we plan to acquire similar weapons with different technical capabilities and for firing at different ranges,” he further added.
The market research for the procurement of long-range loitering munitions began in the spring of 2022, including companies from the USA, Turkey, South Korea, Poland, Germany, Israel, the United Kingdom, and Estonia. The first deliveries of the long-range loitering munitions are expected to arrive in 2024, with the necessary training provided to the Defense Forces before deployment. The Defense Forces will be ready to use the systems as soon as they arrive.
IAI’s President and CEO Mr. Boaz Levi said, “Estonia is a strategic partner for IAI. This award reflects the growing trust and relations between Estonia and our company. IAI offers a family of loitering munition missiles – providing a wide range of solutions from the tactical to the strategic level.”
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In conclusion, the agreement between Estonia and IAI for the acquisition of long-range loitering munitions is a significant step towards strengthening Estonia’s defense capability. It will enhance the country’s ability to launch attacks from long distances and provide more flexibility and responsiveness in employing firepower. The procurement is a testament to Estonia’s commitment to defense and security and the growing relationship between Estonia and IAI.
