Three former Royal Navy “Sandown” class Single Role Mine Hunters (SRMH) will be procured for the Estonian Navy. Part of the contract will be to repair and equip the vessels with modern military equipment, install a new “Seafox” mine disposal system and modernise the command, control and sonar systems. The crews will all receive training from the British Navy.
The Minister of Defence Mr. Jürgen Ligi said: “This purchase is a strong addition to the close relationship between the Armed Forces of Estonia and Great Britain that started with British Naval support for Estonian independence and continues today with Estonian troops deployed alongside the UK forces in Afghanistan.”
In April 2007, the first vessel will be delivered to the Estonian Navy, a second in March 2008, and the third vessel in February/March 2009. The first two vessels will be made fully operational. The third vessel will be equipped with side sonars, remotely operated vehicles, and mine disposal systems. The Estonian Navy plans to put these vessels into active use for at least 15 years.
Speaking at the ceremony, Lord Drayson said: “As one of our newer export partners Estonia has demonstrated a level of efficiency and sense of purpose that has enabled both sides to conclude the negotiations with commendable speed. We look forward to working closely with you in the future”
The task of the Estonian Navy is to ensure an anti-mine capability in territorial waters and to conduct systematic gathering of underwater and seabed information along the most heavily used shipping lanes. In addition to regular mine hunting activities the vessels of the Estonian Navy can be used in search and rescue operations. The remotely operated vehicles can also control underwater construction and detect floating or submerged objects. The development of an efficient mine hunting capability by 2010 is one of the priorities of the Estonian Navy. The current Estonian Minesweeping vessels are over 40 years old and will be unable to fulfil the goals set for the Estonian Navy.
Defence Minister Jürgen Ligi said, “It is important for us to be able to fulfil the obligations we have assumed before NATO and, in that regard, the equipment of the Estonian Navy has to meet the latest standards”.
The Estonian Ministry of Defence and the Estonian Defence Forces jointly prepared the procurement of the mine hunters. The whole process has taken three years to plan and complete. The choice was finally made between the US mine hunters “Osprey” or the UK “Sandown” class. The British ships were chosen as their technical characteristics were better suited for the operational tasks of the Estonian Navy.
Background:
Estonian Government approved “The Force Structure and Development Plan of the Estonian Defence Forces until 2010” (hereinafter FSR 2010) on 27th March 2004. This document provides the objectives for the development of Estonia’s military defence system, and envisages the commencement of the gradual replacement of the current MCM vessels of the Estonian Navy between 2008 and 2010. According to FSR 2010, the planned budgetary cost to replace the existing MCM vessels is up to 800 million EEK.