Estonia boosts defense with HIMARS 'god of war' rockets
At the headquarters of the American defense company Lockheed Martin, a ceremonial handover of six M142 HIMARS rocket systems to Estonia took place. This weapon has an excellent reputation worldwide and has recently proven its effectiveness in Ukraine.
According to a statement issued by the Estonian Defense Investment Center (RKIK), the newly acquired equipment will strengthen the local army by the summer of this year.
The delivery fulfills a contract signed at the end of 2022. In addition to the HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) systems themselves, the Estonian authorities have secured ammunition, communication solutions, training, logistics, and technical support.
Estonia selects new HIMARS launchers
"Starting this summer, HIMARS will provide us with the capability for precise long-range strikes, significantly enhancing Estonia's defense capabilities," said Major Tanel Tatsi, the commander of the artillery troops of the Estonian Defense Forces.
HIMARS system capabilities appreciated in the Baltic region
The HIMARS system can use various types of ammunition to target threats. The designers have ensured compatibility with standard MLRS rockets caliber 8.9 inches and guided GMLRS ammunition, including cluster submunition missiles. Przemysław Juraszek, a journalist from Wirtualna Polska, thoroughly explained the principle of operation.
In each of these cases, the launcher holds six missiles, but they can also be replaced with one MGM-140 ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System), a long-range weapon allowing attacks at distances of up to 186 miles. A combination of inertial and satellite navigation provides very high precision hits, reaching just a few yards. Thanks to this precision and significant destructive power, HIMARS is called the "god of war," which also proves its effectiveness in Ukraine while destroying Russian equipment.
Other Baltic states are also equipping themselves with HIMARS systems—Lithuania, Latvia, and Poland. In November 2024, the last launchers ordered under the 2019 contract arrived in Poland. Further deliveries related to the contract signed in 2023 for another 486 HIMARS launchers for Poland are still awaited.
