Estonia has signed a contract with Lockheed Martin to procure three additional M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS).
The agreement includes an investment of approximately $11 million in the Estonian defense industry. No further details have been disclosed.
The move follows the signing of a 290-million-euro ($340-million) contract to procure at least six K239 Chunmoo multiple launch rocket systems from Hanwha Aerospace to complement the first six HIMARS launchers ordered in 2022 and formally received in January 2025.
“Additional HIMARS systems will ensure the deep-strike capability required by the Estonian Defence Forces and NATO, significantly strengthening both our national defence capability and deterrence,” Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur said.
“Expanding cooperation with Lockheed Martin will also directly support the development of Estonia’s defence industry.”
Investment in Estonian Defense Industry
The $11-million investment will support the establishment of HIMARS component maintenance capabilities in Estonia, ensuring the availability of required services locally.
“The $11-million investment in Estonia will be combined, at Lockheed Martin’s initiative, with investments in neighbouring countries such as Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Finland, in order to build broader regional expertise and ensure the availability of required services locally,” Category Manager for Combat Platforms at the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments, Janari Kasemets, explained.
Previously, Hanwha Aerospace also announced a 100-million euro ($115.5-million) investment package aimed at supporting Estonia’s defense industry, including plans to build a sustainment and repair center and establish an ammunition factory.
The maintenance facility will support systems supplied by the company for the Estonian Defense Forces, including the K9 Thunder and K239 Chunmoo systems.
