Estonia reportedly eyes Israel’s David’s Sling to counter Russian threat

Estonia is reportedly considering acquiring Israel’s David’s Sling missile defense system as part of a planned effort to spend more than €1 billion ($1.2 billion) strengthening its air defenses against potential Russian missile attacks.

The Baltic NATO member is also assessing the U.S. Patriot and French-Italian SAMP/T missile defense systems, according to Estonian news outlet ERR News. The potential purchase comes as European nations continue to strengthen their defenses following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with countries bordering Russia among those facing particular security concerns.

ERR reported that Estonia has received about five bids from international defense companies. The Estonian Center for Defense Investment (ECDI) has reportedly assessed and compared the available missile defense systems, with the government expected to consider factors including acquisition costs, personnel training, long-term maintenance and overall life-cycle expenses.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said the earliest defense deliveries could arrive in two or three years, while other systems could take eight to nine years to become operational.

Pevkur also expressed concerns about the availability of U.S.-made defense systems, which are currently being heavily used by Ukrainian forces in their war against Russia.

"The most difficult thing is, of course, with U.S. products, because they are also actively used in Ukraine, and we see that the most difficult thing is with ammunition there. 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 stated.

Estonia has long sought stronger defenses against Russia

Estonia’s interest in missile defense predates the current procurement effort. In February 2022, just days before Russia invaded Ukraine, then-Estonian Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu told ALL ISRAEL NEWS Editor-in-Chief Joel Rosenberg that Estonia needed U.S. troops and Patriot missile systems to help protect the country from the Russian threat.

“We would like to see also a permanent U.S. military presence,” Reinsalu said. “We would be very proud to receive also the Patriot missile systems,” he added.

David’s Sling is designed to intercept ballistic, rocket, and cruise missiles fired from distances of 40 to 300 kilometers (25 to 186 miles). The system was jointly developed by Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and U.S. defense company Raytheon, which also developed the Patriot missile system.

European demand for Israeli missile defense grows

Estonia would not be the first European country to turn to Israel for advanced missile defense capabilities. A growing number of Western nations have shown interest in Israeli defense systems as Russia’s war in Ukraine has highlighted the importance of robust aerial defenses.

On Monday, Greece and Israel signed a historic €3 billion deal ($3.48 billion) for an Israeli integrated air and missile defense system for the Greek military. The deal is part of “Achilles Shield,” the official name for Greece’s wider air and missile defense network.

“This is the largest defense export deal in the history of Israel-Greece relations, and one of the largest in the history of the State of Israel,” the Israel Ministry of Defense spokesperson said in an official statement.

Germany has also expanded its cooperation with Israel. In January, Germany signed an expanded $3.1 billion agreement for the delivery of Israel’s Arrow 3 missile defense system. Berlin has signed a total of $6.5 billion in defense agreements with Israel aimed at strengthening its aerial defenses against potential Russian or Iranian ballistic missile attacks.

Finland, which joined NATO in 2023, has also chosen Israel’s David’s Sling missile defense system. Like Estonia, Finland shares a long border with Russia.

In 2024, Slovakia acquired an Israeli aerial defense system for €560 million ($649 million).