Six new US-made M142 HIMARS rocket launchers enter Estonian service to expand strike range beyond 300 kilometers.

On April 30, 2025, six M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers were handed over to the Estonian Defence Forces at Ämari Air Base. The systems will significantly increase Estonia’s deep-strike capability. The transfer follows three and a half years of preparation, including system procurement, unit creation, personnel staffing, and training. Training was conducted in cooperation with the United States under the framework of Task Force "Victory." The Estonian Defence Forces plan to begin live-fire exercises with the HIMARS systems in summer 2025.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

The U.S. Department of State approved the potential foreign military sale of six M142 HIMARS rocket launchers to Estonia on July 15, 2022, for an estimated cost of up to $500 million. (Picture source: RKIK/ECDI)

The Estonian Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the launchers were acquired through cooperation with the United States, both in terms of procurement and training. According to statements by Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur, the bilateral cooperation with the U.S. is based on joint objectives and mutual trust. General Major Indrek Sirel, commander of the Estonian Defence Forces Division, stated that Estonian personnel had already trained with U.S. HIMARS units stationed in Estonia, enabling the country to proceed with forming and developing its own divisional HIMARS unit.

According to Magnus-Valdemar Saar, Director General of the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (RKIK), the acquisition is part of a trilateral Baltic military development program. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania are jointly implementing this project, which will see each country receive the same HIMARS system. Saar emphasized that cooperation at this level is not frequent and that the current project is a rare example of joint large-scale procurement involving all three Baltic states and the United States. The deliveries to Latvia and Lithuania are scheduled to follow, with the goal of enabling all three countries to achieve the capability to conduct long-range strikes.

Estonia signed a contract for the acquisition of six HIMARS systems in December 2022 with the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). According to RKIK’s Armament Category Manager Ramil Lipp, the agreement includes not only the launchers but also associated munitions, communication equipment, training programs, logistics support, and lifecycle management solutions. The munitions in the package cover a range of effects and distances from 70 to 300 kilometers. The included missile types are M30A2 and M31A2 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) pods, XM403 and XM404 Extended Range GMLRS pods, and M57 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) pods. The contract also includes M28A2 Low-Cost Reduced Range Practice Rocket pods, ruggedized laptops, training equipment, and technical documentation for the systems and munitions.

The U.S. Department of State approved the potential foreign military sale earlier, on July 15, 2022, for an estimated cost of up to $500 million. The DSCA reported that the sale supports U.S. foreign and national security policy objectives by improving the defense capabilities of a NATO ally. It further stated that the sale would not alter the basic military balance in the region and that Estonia would not encounter challenges in absorbing the systems. Lockheed Martin is the principal contractor. The implementation of the sale may involve the deployment of up to 15 U.S. government and 15 contractor personnel in Estonia during the delivery, training, integration, and testing phases. No offset agreements are associated with the sale.

The HIMARS system, produced by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, is a truck-mounted multiple rocket launcher that can carry one pod containing six GMLRS rockets or one ATACMS missile. (Picture source: RKIK/ECDI)

Estonian officials have clarified that the total contract value does not reflect Estonia’s financial contribution alone. MP and reserve Lieutenant Colonel Leo Kunnas stated that Estonia will not pay the full $500 million. The systems are acquired in cooperation with the United States, and the U.S. will cover a substantial part of the cost. Minister of Defence Kalle Laanet added that Estonia’s share is allocated in the state budget and there is no uncertainty regarding its financing. The funding arrangement follows the typical structure of U.S.-led military assistance projects.

The HIMARS delivery is part of a wider U.S. military assistance effort to Estonia. Between 2022 and 2024, U.S. security assistance for Estonian defense projects tripled compared to the period from 2019 to 2021, rising from approximately $122 million to $430 million. This assistance has been used to increase large-caliber ammunition stocks, improve communications infrastructure, enhance air surveillance capabilities, and develop the Estonian Defence Forces’ ability to conduct operations at night. In addition to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are participating in the same HIMARS acquisition project. In October 2022, Latvia submitted a letter of request to the United States, and in December 2023 signed a contract for six systems, with delivery scheduled to begin in 2027. Lithuania’s request was approved in November 2022, and in December of the same year the country signed a $495 million contract for eight launchers and more than 800 missiles, including ATACMS.

The regional interest in HIMARS follows broader developments in Eastern Europe. Poland ordered 20 HIMARS launchers in 2019 and is planning to acquire up to 500 more. However, due to production constraints and delivery timelines, Poland has also opted to purchase 288 South Korean K239 Chunmoo multiple rocket launchers. Estonia’s procurement was among the earliest of the new wave of regional acquisitions, alongside these parallel requests from neighboring countries.

The HIMARS system, produced by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, is a truck-mounted multiple rocket launcher that can carry one pod containing six GMLRS rockets or one ATACMS missile. It is based on the U.S. Army’s Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) and can be airlifted by C-130, C-17, or C-5 aircraft. HIMARS is capable of launching all MLRS Family of Munitions, with GPS-aided guidance systems and an inertial navigation system. HIMARS can use a variety of munitions, including M30A1 and M31A1 rockets with ranges up to 92 km, Extended Range GMLRS up to 150 km, and ATACMS missiles with ranges up to 300 km. Future Precision Strike Missiles (PrSM), currently in development, are planned to reach up to 499 km and will also be compatible with HIMARS.

In Ukraine, the HIMARS' high precision and mobility have made it a priority target for Russian forces, which have used loitering munitions and drone surveillance to attempt to detect and neutralize HIMARS launchers. (Picture source: RKIK/ECDI)

As of 2024, the M142 HIMARS is in service in multiple NATO and partner countries, including Poland, Romania, Singapore, Taiwan, Ukraine, and the United Arab Emirates. The United States Army and Marine Corps also field numerous HIMARS batteries. Ukraine has employed HIMARS extensively since receiving initial systems in June 2022, primarily using them to target Russian logistics hubs, ammunition depots, and command centers. As of early 2024, Ukraine had received at least 38 HIMARS, with two confirmed destroyed and two more damaged. Ukraine has also used HIMARS to carry out strikes on Russian targets in Belgorod and Kursk oblasts after receiving clearance to use U.S.-provided weapons against military targets on internationally recognized Russian territory.

Ukraine’s operational experience with HIMARS has shown that the system can be vulnerable to countermeasures such as electronic jamming of GPS signals. However, its inertial navigation system remains functional under such conditions, albeit with reduced accuracy. As of February 2023, Ukrainian forces had fired an estimated 9,500 GMLRS rockets. The system's high precision and mobility have made it a priority target for Russian forces, which have used loitering munitions and drone surveillance to attempt to detect and neutralize HIMARS launchers.

The Estonian Defence Forces now join a growing list of operators integrating the HIMARS into national force structures. The platform is used for both tactical and operational-level engagements and supports joint fires with NATO allies. Lockheed Martin’s current production rate for HIMARS is increasing to meet international demand, with plans to raise annual output to 96 launchers. Estonia’s acquisition represents a continuation of U.S.-Estonia military cooperation, supporting regional defense integration and long-range strike capability within NATO’s northeastern flank.