Estonia weighs major investment in ballistic missile defence

Estonia’s Ministry of Defence is expected to decide this spring how much to invest in ballistic missile defence, with potential spending ranging from several hundred million euros to more than €1 billion. Any systems procured would be delivered in the early 2030s.

Alongside its planned acquisition of IRIS-T medium-range air defence systems from Germany, Estonia has also been preparing to procure long-range air defence capabilities able to intercept ballistic missiles. The intention is to protect strategically vital infrastructure whose destruction could significantly degrade the military capabilities of Estonia and its allies, including airfields, ports, defence command centres and key railway junctions, Caliber.Az reports per ERR. 

The Estonian Center for Defence Investments is currently completing a market analysis for the potential procurement. All relevant manufacturers have been contacted and provided with detailed information on Estonia’s operational requirements.

By the end of March, the Centre is expected to present a comprehensive market overview—based on feedback from industry—to the Ministry of Defence and the commander of the Estonian Defence Forces. This analysis will form the basis for political and military decisions on whether and how to proceed with the acquisition.

Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said the market environment is evolving rapidly, particularly due to strong demand driven by the war in Ukraine.

“The sooner we receive this market analysis, the more informed our decision will be — whether we move forward with ballistic missile defense and on what timeline,” Pevkur told ERR.

According to the minister, a decision on the scope of the procurement could be taken as early as April or May. Establishing a limited, baseline capability would cost several hundred million euros, while acquiring a larger number of interceptors and supporting equipment could push the investment above €1 billion.

The final decision will take into account not only the purchase price but also the system’s full lifecycle costs, including personnel, training and long-term maintenance.

Systems currently under consideration include the US-made Patriot, Israel’s David’s Sling and the Franco-Italian SAMP/T. Other manufacturers are also being evaluated, though their identities have not been publicly disclosed.

By Sabina Mammadli