US-made HIMARS set to arrive in Estonia by summer

The M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) ordered from the U.S. have now been handed over to Estonian state control and will arrive in the country by summer. The Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) have already selected and trained 100 reservists to operate the weapons.
The HIMARS produced for Estonia are now ready, with only some integration work left to be done, said Ramil Lipp, strategic category manager for armaments at the Estonian Center for Defense Investments (ECDI).
The weapons systems will get to Estonia by sea this spring, though it will take more time before the ammunition arrives.
"In terms of the ammunition, the deliveries will come this year and continue over the coming years. Both are GMLRSs (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems), which have a range of 70 kilometers, and ATACMS, which have a range of up to 300 kilometers," Lipp explained.
The U.S. Navy is also now using the new PRISM missiles, which have a range of 500 kilometers and will replace the longer-range missiles that Estonia has acquired.
"At some point, Estonia will most likely also switch from ATACMS to PRISM. But that will be over a longer timeframe," said Lipp.
Long-range shooting requires targeting data from reconnaissance aircraft, drones or satellites.
"At the moment, for very long distances, we certainly depend on or are working with our allies, until we have that capability ourselves," Lipp said.
The Estonian Defense Forces have selected the reservists to train on using the HIMARS, based on who expressed an interest in doing so. Once the new systems arrive in Estonia and all the paperwork has been completed, the EDF will call up the teams for training.
"Perhaps as soon as next week, after the technical inspection, they could be called. The unit has a more precise plan, and they are working to that. The reservists are actually already aware of it, who is assigned there, who is supposed to come and according to what schedule," explained Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) artillery commander Maj. Tanel Tatsi.
Much of the preparation has already been done in cooperation with the U.S. HIMARS team, which is based at Tapa.
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Editor: Merili Nael, Michael Cole
Source: "Aktuaalne kaamera"