Estonia сonfirms setback in HIMARS ammunition supplies

Commander of the Estonian Defence Forces Andrus Merilo has confirmed delays in the delivery of ammunition for the country’s HIMARS rocket systems, attributing the issue to the broader impact of the war in the Middle East.

According to ERR, Merilo said he could not provide a timeline for when supplies would resume. Despite the setback, he emphasised that operational readiness is progressing.

“The unit is ready; the arrival of ammunition is being delayed. In a certain sense, it is positive that the rocket systems themselves are already with us, and training is continuing according to plan,” he noted.

Estonia is now considering alternatives to HIMARS, including the South Korean multiple launch rocket system Chunmoo. Officials have indicated that no supply disruptions are expected for Chunmoo systems or their associated munitions.

Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur addressed the potential compatibility between different systems, noting both theoretical flexibility and practical constraints.

“Theoretically, they are interchangeable. In practice, of course, there are restrictions imposed by the US government and manufacturers, which set certain parameters. But technically, different systems can be used together,” Pevkur said.

By Tamilla Hasanova