In a move to boost their defense capabilities with greater economy, Estonia, Belgium, Cyprus, France and Hungary have signed a cooperation agreement to buy Mistral short-range air defense missiles through joint procurement, allowing the countries to save costs and expedite delivery.
Under the agreement, France has the authority to conduct joint procurement on behalf of all participating countries, with the expectation that an agreement with French company MBDA will be reached next autumn.
“I am very pleased that we are working with our strategic partner, France, to develop Estonia’s air defense capability, which has proven to be critical due to Russia’s aggression in Ukrainesaid Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, who signed the agreement on behalf of Estonia on June 19 in Paris.
“The participation of Belgium, Cyprus and Hungary adds value to the cooperation agreement by enabling cost savings and faster delivery,” Pevkur added.
Pevkur went on to say that by jointly sourcing from a European manufacturer, countries will also be able to apply for support from the European Union. “Our goal is to maximize defense capabilities for every euro invested in national defense.”
The Mistral in the defenses of Estonia
The Mistral, manufactured by French arms manufacturer MBDA, is a fire-and-forget infrared surface-to-air missile system with an effective engagement range of up to six kilometers against air threats. It is a versatile and compact weapon system that can be launched by various platforms, including ground, vehicles, ships and helicopters. The system is used worldwide and is used by more than 30 countries.
In a statement from the Estonian Ministry of Defense, Ramil Lipp, strategic category manager for weapon systems and munitions at the Estonian Defense Investment Center, explained that the Mistral short-range air defense system is an attractive market because it has gained widespread use in Europe. This enabled countries to provide mutual support in the use of the system and even to cross stock in times of crisis.
Since 2009, the Estonian Defense Forces have been using the Mistral systems, which were originally ordered in 2007.
Estonia is currently expanding its air defense capabilities beyond short-range measures, with an emphasis on developing medium-range capabilities. In May, Estonia joined hands with Latvia to start talks with Diehl Defence, a prominent German defense industry company, to secure an agreement to acquire the Iris-T SLM air defense system.
Read the original at Defence247.gr
