Estonian naval forces are set to receive Israel Aerospace Industries-made Blue Spear anti-ship missiles, the Estonian Centre for Defense Investment (ECDI) announced on Wednesday.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
It signed a contract with Proteus Advanced Systems, a joint venture company of IAI, and ST Engineering Land Systems, to acquire the missiles.
The Blue Spear missile system is an advanced precision weapon that can operate at all weather conditions, day and night and enables strike capabilities beyond the line of sight, against mobile and stationary targets at sea. The missile's maximum range is 290 kilometers (180 miles).
The Blue Spear system enables launching from several land-based platforms with flight at high sub-sonic speed. The warhead employs an active radar-homing seeker, accurate INS-based navigation capabilities, and a robust system that is immune to GPS disruptions and maximal accuracy target acquisition. The systems are equipped with a variety of deception means to achieve their mission and cope with the different battlefield challenges.
According to a statement by the ECDI, the missiles are part of an agreement to develop "Estonian coastal defense capabilities and arming the defense forces with the Blue Spear land-to-sea missile system."
"The project, with tight timescales and encompassing a complex set of requirements, is one of the biggest in Estonian defense procurement and definitely the most complex," it added. "Hand in hand with the new capability development in the maritime domain, the contract provides opportunities for the Estonian defense industry."
The Estonian Defense Ministry said in a statement, "This weapon system substantially improves our coastal defense and sends a clear message that we are contributing to the regional and collective defense effort. This is one of the most complex and high-tech weapon systems of all time and a huge leap forward for the Estonian Defense Forces. I am very glad that Estonia has a defense industry capable of participating in such high-tech projects."
Estonian Navy Commander Juri Saska noted, "The chosen weapon system will form the cornerstone of Estonian naval defense for decades to come. Estonian Navy will be able to contribute significantly both to national, regional and collective defense effort."
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
Proteus Advanced Systems' General Manager Ron Tryfus lauded the deal, saying, "We are proud to be selected to equip the Estonian Defense Forces with the advanced Blue Spear missiles. We greatly value this opportunity and look forward to deepening our cooperation with the Estonian Defense Forces.
"This is a very advanced, operational proven system, leading the sea battlefield by its capabilities and based on IAI's many years of experience in the field of missiles, particularly with the Gabriel missile family. The strong cooperation of IAI and ST Engineering expresses the capabilities of the two companies in developing advanced battle systems. The Blue Spear system, being the advanced member of the Gabriel missile heritage, will serve as the next generation of surface to surface missile systems."
