Estonia’s new HIMARs System enhances Baltic defense and deterrence, reflecting deep U.S.-Estonian military cooperation, rapid NATO integration, and strategic investment in counterstrike capability against any Russian aggression.
NATO member Estonia received six additional U.S.-made M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) multiple rocket launchers (MRLs) last month. The systems were delivered to the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF) at Ämari Air Base, located about twenty-three miles southwest of the capital of Tallinn.
Only last November did the base reopen after a significant renovation that upgraded its capabilities to support NATO Air Policing missions in the Baltic region. While the Estonian Air Force has a strength of just over 1,500 personnel and no operational combat aircraft, the base provides airspace surveillance and full national radar coverage for the NATO mission.
HIMAR Systems Are All Around the Baltic States
In December 2022, the Estonian Center for Defense Investments (ECDI) signed a $200 million contract with the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) to transfer the mobile launchers.
In addition to the six HIMARS, which were delivered to Estonia on a Ukrainian Antonov An-124 transport aircraft, Washington is also providing rockets with a range of up to 250 miles, along with communication systems, training, logistics, and life-cycle support for the mobile launchers.
The commander of the Estonian Division, the primary combat unit of the Estonian Land Forces, explained that the training could be expedited.
“The arrival of HIMARS systems provides important additional capabilities for fulfilling the division-level tasks of the [Estonian] Defense Forces. Since U.S. HIMARS units are already stationed in Estonia, our soldiers have already undergone training. Now we can move forward with developing and preparing our own HIMARS unit at the division level,” said Major General Indrek Sirel.
A United States task force is expected to conduct live-fire exercises with the Estonian military’s HIMARS beginning in the third quarter of this year.
“I’m very pleased that Estonia, in cooperation with our largest and most strategically important NATO ally, the United States, has brought our independent defense capability into a completely new era,” added Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.
“The U.S.’s crucial role in both financing the procurement and training our defense personnel confirms once again that Estonia and the United States share a broad and deeply rooted defense partnership based on unwavering trust and common goals.”
The northernmost Baltic nation, Estonia, has a total area of 17,462 square miles, slightly smaller than West Virginia. Six HIMARS will allow the EDF to cover much of the territory should it face an invasion from Russia.
The HIMARS, which can carry one launch pod containing either six Guided MLRS (GMLRS)/MLRS rockets or one Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missile, would be well suited to countering such an assault. It is a “shoot and scoot” platform meant to arrive at a designated launch site, shoot its payload, and roll out before the enemy can return fire.
A trained crew can reload the weapon within four to five minutes, assisted by an integrated crane. Reload rockets are carried by an escorting MTVR MK37 resupply vehicle, which carries two sets of reload missiles and is fitted with an integral crane.
Estonia Is Happy to Have the HIMARs on Their Land
Though U.S. President Donald Trump and his supporters have repeatedly suggested that some NATO members aren’t paying “their fair share” in defense spending, this isn’t true about Estonia. Tallinn is among the top spenders, based on the alliance’s GDP, spending about 3.21 percent last year, which even outpaced that of the United States.
The Estonian government pledged last month to increase spending to 5.4 percent of GDP, or roughly $3.2 billion.
In addition, in March, Estonia joined Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland in announcing it would withdraw from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, AKA the Ottawa Convention, and begin producing land mines.
The four countries border Russian and Belarusian territory and would likely be among the first nations to face an invasion from Russia. The insidious weapons could be deployed along the frontier region, which is increasingly being fortified.
Anti-personnel and anti-tank mines could slow an invasion, and weapons like the HIMARS could help drive an attacker back. Just as likely, the weapons could deter Moscow from even mounting such a campaign.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image Credit: Shutterstock/ Asatur Yesayants.
