Estonian Armed Forces Acquire Polish Portable SAM Systems Piorun
In Estonia, the State Center for Defense Investments (RKIK) has handed over Polish short-range portable surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems Piorun to the country's Armed Forces, as reported by ERR.
The enhancement of Estonia's short-range air defence capability incurred a cost of 103 million euros.
It is noted that the Polish SAM systems Piorun stand out for their user-friendliness, with proficiency achievable after just a few hours of training. This system will be utilized by a specific unit within the Estonian Defense Forces, operating directly under the command of the division's leadership, with training conducted on the basis of reservists.
This marks the first joint defence procurement between Estonia and Poland. According to RKIK, the tender's advantage was the rapid delivery of SAM systems and their relatively low cost compared to the value of targets Piorun can eliminate.
Developed in Poland, the Piorun SAM was introduced into service in 2019. Capable of engaging targets up to eight kilometres away, it offers 24/7 operational capability, regardless of natural lighting conditions. Currently, these systems are also part of the arsenals of the Polish and Ukrainian armies.
Recall that on July 15 last year, the U.S. State Department approved the sale of High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) reactive multiple launch rocket systems and related equipment to the Estonian government for an amount of up to $500 million.
The Gaze publication also reported that over the past two years, Estonia has trained over 1300 Ukrainian military personnel. Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Estonian Defence Forces conducted training for their Ukrainian counterparts, constituting one-sixth of the total number of Estonian military personnel trained during the same period.
Ukrainian military personnel in Estonia underwent basic military training, while Estonian military personnel also trained artillerymen, snipers, riflemen, and specialists in cyber warfare.
The Estonian Armed Forces noted that the training of Ukrainian military personnel will bring practical benefits to both Estonia and Ukraine.