Latvia and Estonia to perform joint military procurement.
Russia’s aggressive war in Ukraine proved that Russia’s neighbours have to be prepared to defend themselves. One way, which is proven in Ukraine, is anti-air defence. This is why for a long time it has been a priority for the Latvian government to create a layered air defence.
It provides for various anti-air defence systems that protect not only other objects on the ground, but each other as well. Every next layer increases the entire system’s strength.
Previously it was reported the purchase of an anti-air defence system may cost EUR 600 million. Lithuania did not join this plan because it is already working on adopting NASAMS anti-air system.
“So far our National Armed Forces have been working on development of their close-range anti-air defence.
which will provide maximum protection for Latvia’s territory, residents, as well as civilian and military infrastructure,” Latvian minister Ināra Mūrniece told journalists.
Both ministers stressed at the press-conference that IRIS-T is one of the most modern medium-range systems in the world that proved its worth in Ukraine, ensuring 98% to 99% effectiveness.
According to Pevkur, an international procurement was organised to select the best possible variant for Latvia’s and Estonia’s defence. The final decision in favour of IRIS-T was affected by the system’s effectiveness and price, as agreed upon by Latvian and Estonian military experts.
This is historically the biggest Estonian-Latvian joint procurement,” said Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.
IRIS-T system is capable of shooting down aircraft, helicopters, UAVs, cruise missiles, as well as close range ballistic missiles and hypersonic missiles, as journalists were told by Latvian National Armed Forces Commander Lt. General Leonīds Kalniņš.
Mūrniece stressed: “The Ministry of Defence turns attention to the effectiveness of anti-air systems during a war.
A joint procurement of a single system will allow both countries save budget funds, as well as make coordination of the Baltic region’s mutual defence. As the Latvian minister mentioned at the press-conference, this will be the biggest military procurement since the restoration of Latvia’s independence.
Considering that the potential supplier is unknown, Latvia’s Ministry of Defence is unable to reveal information about any particular cost and procured numbers of the system.
In the coming months officials will continue working on the details of the contract. There will also be negotiations about the possible supplier, creation of the national industrial base and maintenance for IRIS-T anti-air system.
According to existing plans, once the contract is signed, supplies of the anti-air system could commence in 2025.
Source: Baltic News Network
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