Estonia Expands HIMARS Fleet, Adds ATACMS Missiles

Estonia is expanding its fleet of HIMARS systems and purchasing a large batch of ammunition under a new contract with the United States.

The deal, signed through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, is valued at $4.73 billion, according to sources cited by the Kyiv Post.

According to the notification sent to the U.S. Congress, the agreement covers additional M142 HIMARS launchers, ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles, and GMLRS guided rockets.

The original contract, signed in 2022, was worth approximately $500 million and was later supplemented by an additional $200 million. The latest agreement marks a significant expansion. Estonia will purchase six more HIMARS launchers, in addition to those already in service.

The purchase also includes 182 ATACMS ballistic missiles, with 18 to be delivered in the first stage, as well as 856 GMLRS rocket pods of various types. The first batch will consist of 144 pods.

Officials stated that the expansion will significantly enhance Estonia’s defense capabilities and its ability to conduct precision strikes, amid rising threats from Russia.

In July, after four months of training, Estonian forces conducted their first live-fire exercise with HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems.

An official ceremony marking the arrival of the first six HIMARS launchers was held earlier this year at a base of the Estonian Armed Forces.

Defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have announced that the three Baltic states will jointly field 20 HIMARS launchers supplied by the United States, capable of firing both guided rockets and short-range tactical ballistic missiles.