TALLINN — Estonia plans to invest over €1 billion in a new long-range ground-based air defense system. The Estonian government aims to make a procurement decision within two months of September 1, 2026.

The intended purpose of the system is to protect strategic sites. Estonia is considering purchasing Israel’s David Sling missile defense system. The country is also evaluating the American Patriot and the Franco-Italian SAMP/T systems alongside the David Sling.

Estonia’s Centre for Defense Investment (ECDI) has completed a market assessment of available missile defense systems. The agency received approximately five bids from various companies during this process. The ECDI evaluation criteria include acquisition costs, personnel costs, training costs, and long-term maintenance costs.

Hanno Pevkur is Estonia’s Defense Minister. He addressed the complexities of the current global defense market in an interview. "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," Pevkur said.

Pevkur noted that delivery timelines varied among the potential suppliers. "Some companies could deliver within two or three years, while others would take eight or nine years to deliver the system," he said. The minister emphasized the need for due diligence regarding the proposals. "This is the work that we now have to do with companies to understand whether what was offered to us is actually feasible or not," Pevkur added.

The new long-range system will complement Germany’s medium-range IRIS-T air defense systems. Germany delivered the first of its medium-range IRIS-T air defense systems to Estonia in June 2026. Two additional German IRIS-T air defense systems are scheduled for delivery to Estonia by 2027. The ECDI will begin contract negotiations after the government makes a procurement decision.

The David’s Sling system is a joint project between Israel and the United States. Israel’s Rafael Advanced Defense Systems collaborates with American defense contractor Raytheon on the David’s Sling system. Raytheon produces the Patriot missile system.

The David’s Sling missile defense system is designed to intercept tactical ballistic missiles, medium- to long-range rockets, and cruise missiles. The system operates at ranges between 40 and 300 kilometers.

Elta, a subdivision of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), developed the radar for the David’s Sling system. Elisra, a subdivision of Elbit Systems, developed the command and control mechanisms for the David’s Sling system. Finland purchased the David’s Sling system after joining NATO.

Greece and Israel signed a €3 billion government-to-government defense export agreement on September 1, 2026. The Greece-Israel agreement covers the design and delivery of a multi-layered national air defense architecture for Greece’s Achilles Shield project. The German purchase of the Arrow 3 system provides exoatmospheric interception capability.

Why It Matters

Estonia’s planned investment of over €1 billion represents an expansion of its national air defense capabilities. The selection of a long-range system to protect strategic sites marks a shift toward a layered defense architecture. This approach integrates the new acquisition with the medium-range IRIS-T systems provided by Germany. The evaluation of multiple international options, including systems from Israel, the United States, and Europe, reflects a strategy to balance capability, cost, and supply chain reliability.

The timeline for the procurement decision aligns with broader regional trends in air defense modernization. Neighboring countries and NATO allies, such as Finland and Greece, have also engaged in major defense agreements involving Israeli and European systems. The challenges cited by Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur regarding ammunition supply chains for US-made systems reflect the logistical constraints affecting global defense markets. The final choice will determine Estonia’s long-term interoperability with allied forces and its ability to secure critical infrastructure against advanced aerial threats.