Estonia, Latvia Initiate Joint Procurement of Air Defense System

Estonia and Latvia on Monday took initial steps to jointly procure mid-range air defense systems.

Five to seven manufacturers worldwide are expected to compete for deal.

The two countries have yet to make a decision on the scale of the tender. Hanno Pevkur, Estonia’s defense minister, said it will be discussed at cabinet level "in the coming weeks.”

Former Estonian defense minister Kalle Laanet and his Latvian counterpart Artis Pabriks signed a letter of intent, which will create a legal framework for the systems' joint procurement, at the NATO Madrid Summit in June.

“My colleague (Artis Pabriks) and I agreed today that Estonia will lead the process from the technical side via our Center for Defense Investment (RKK). That said, it is vital that both governments keep more or less the same pace on this,” Pevkur was quoted as saying by local media.

Estonia will also buy six M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers and related equipment from the U.S. for an estimated $500 million. The deal received the State Department’s nod recently.