Estonia and Latvia are starting negotiations with a German company on the joint purchase of the Iris-T SLM medium-range air defense system, the press service of the Estonian Ministry of Defense reported.
“Estonia and Latvia have chosen the German-made Iris-T system for their medium-range air defense systems. In order to jointly purchase the Iris-T SLM, the countries are starting negotiations with the German defense industry company Diehl Defence,” the report says.
Estonia and Latvia signed a protocol of intent to jointly procure a medium-range air defense system at the NATO summit in Madrid in June 2022. The process is led by the Estonian Defense Investment Center, which in July last year signed an agreement with the Latvian Ministry of Defense to start a joint procurement.
“I am very pleased that, together with Latvia, we have reached a new milestone in the joint procurement of medium-range air defense. This is a joint project of historical significance in the defense cooperation between the two countries, as we have never carried out joint procurement of such a scale before,” said Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur at a meeting in Riga with his colleague Inara Murniece.
According to Pevkur, the exact cost of the investment, as well as the timing of the delivery of air defense will be disclosed after the completion of negotiations. The price includes the air defense system, as well as infrastructure, personnel, training, equipment and other related costs.
