Estonia eyes Israel's David Sling for missile defense against Russia

Estonia is weighing Israel’s David’s Sling missile-defense system as it prepares to spend more than €1 billion on long-range air defenses for strategic sites. The American Patriot and the Franco-Italian SAMP/T are also under consideration, with about five bids submitted.

Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur told ERR that some companies could deliver a system within two or three years, while others would need eight or nine years. Estonia’s Centre for Defense Investment has completed a broad assessment of the market and will examine not only purchase prices, but also personnel, training and long-term maintenance costs.

Pevkur said the government hopes to decide within two months, after which the investment center would begin contract negotiations. The new long-range system would complement Germany’s medium-range IRIS-T air defenses. Estonia received the first IRIS-T system in June and expects two more by next year.

Availability of ammunition is a particular concern for U.S. systems, Pevkur said, because Patriot equipment is being used extensively in Ukraine. “The most difficult thing is, of course, with US products, because they are also actively used in Ukraine, and we see that the most difficult thing is with ammunition there,” he said. “We now have to work with companies to understand whether what was offered to us is actually feasible or not.”

David’s Sling can intercept tactical ballistic missiles, medium- and long-range rockets, and cruise missiles at distances of 40 to 300 kilometers. Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems developed it with Raytheon, while Elta developed its radar and Elisra developed its command-and-control systems. European governments have increasingly selected Israeli air-defense systems since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Spyder.

“

The most difficult thing is, of course, with US products, because they are also actively used in Ukraine, and we see that the most difficult thing is with ammunition there. We now have to work with companies to understand whether what was offered to us is actually feasible or not.