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.