Estonia, Belgium, Cyprus, France, and Hungary signed a cooperation agreement to jointly procure Mistral short-range air defence missile systems. The joint procurement allows Estonia to save costs and expedite delivery.
"I am very pleased that we are cooperating with our strategic partner, France, to develop Estonia's air defence capability, which has been demonstrated to be crucial due to Russia's aggression in Ukraine," said Estonian Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur, who signed the agreement on behalf of Estonia on Monday evening in Paris.
"The participation of Belgium, Cyprus, and Hungary adds value to the cooperation agreement by enabling cost savings and faster delivery," Pevkur added.
The cooperation agreement authorises France to carry out the joint procurement on behalf of all participating countries. The plan is to reach an agreement with the French company MBDA this autumn.
"By jointly procuring from a European manufacturer, we can also apply for support from the European Union. Our goal is to maximise defence capabilities for every euro invested in national defence," explained Pevkur.
Estonia's plan is to acquire missiles for its Mistral short-range air defence system launchers.
"It is important for us to strengthen Estonia's defence capabilities, and when there is an opportunity to cooperate with partner countries in certain areas, it adds even more value. MBDA's Mistral short-range air defence system is widely used in Europe, allowing countries to support each other in system utilisation and even cross-utilise stocks during crises," said Ramil Lipp, the strategic category manager for weapon systems and ammunition at the Estonian Centre for Defence Investment.
Mistral, produced by the French arms manufacturer MBDA, is an infrared homing surface-to-air missile system that operates on the fire-and-forget principle, with an effective engagement range of up to six kilometers against airborne threats.
The Estonian Defence Forces ordered the first Mistral systems in 2007, and they have been in service since 2009. Mistral is compact and multifunctional, capable of being launched from the ground, vehicles, ships, and helicopters. The system is used in 30 countries worldwide.
In addition to short-range air defence, Estonia is also developing its medium-range air defence capabilities. In May, Estonia, in partnership with Latvia, decided to begin negotiations with Germany's defence industry company Diehl Defence to reach an agreement for the procurement of the Iris-T SLM air defence system.
Photos: Kaitseministeerium | Flickr
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