Estonia eyes Israel's David Sling for missile defense against Russia
Tallinn is also looking at the American Patriot and the Franco-Italian SAMP/T to protect strategic sites
Estonia is considering acquiring Israel's David Sling missile defense system to enhance its long-range air defenses and protect strategic sites. The Estonian government plans to invest more than €1 billion in a new long-range ground-based air defense system, and it has received bids from multiple companies. Estonia's Defense Minister, Hanno Pevkur, mentioned that some companies could deliver the system within two to three years, while others would take eight to nine years to deliver.
The Centre for Defense Investment (ECDI) has conducted a comprehensive market assessment of available missile defense systems and will consider not only the acquisition costs but also life cycle costs, including personnel, training, and long-term maintenance. The goal is for the government to make a decision within the next two months, followed by contract negotiations.
Estonia's choice of the David Sling system will complement Germany's medium-range IRIS-T air defense systems, with the first system delivered in June and two more scheduled for delivery by next year. Pevkur noted that the most challenging aspect is dealing with US products, as they are also used in Ukraine, complicating ammunition supply.
The David's Sling missile defense system, a joint Israel-US project, intercepts tactical ballistic missiles, medium- to long-range rockets, and cruise missiles within a range of 40 to 300 kilometers. Developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Raytheon, it also incorporates radar technology from Elta and command and control mechanisms from Elisra.
Europe has increasingly adopted Israeli air defense technology since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with several countries selecting Israeli systems like Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Spyder. Greece and Israel recently signed a €3 billion defense export agreement for a multi-layered air defense system, while Germany purchased Israel's Arrow 3 system for exoatmospheric interception capability.
Finland has also acquired the David's Sling after joining NATO, with a deal exceeding €300 million. Central European states, including the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Romania, have shown interest in Israeli systems, with some countries reportedly in negotiations to acquire them.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
