Estonian Centre for Defence Investment (ECDI) signed an agreement to improve Estonian coastal defense capabilities and arming the defense forces with the Blue Spear (5G SSM) land-to-sea missile systems.
The contract was signed with Proteus Advanced Systems, a joint venture company of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and ST Engineering Land Systems (ST).
ECDI noted that the advanced anti-ship missile systems project is one of the biggest and most complex projects in Estonian defense procurement.
Details about the cost of the contract are kept confidential while the first missile system is expected to be delivered by the end of 2023.
According to a written statement from the center, Estonian Defense Minister Kalle Laanet said: “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 Defence Forces. I am very glad that Estonia has a defense industry capable of participating in such high-tech projects.”
Commander of the Estonian Navy commodore Jüri Saska added: “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.”
“We are proud to be selected to equip the Estonian Defence Forces with the advanced Blue Spear missiles. We greatly value this opportunity and look forward to deepening our cooperation with the Estonian Defence 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.” said Proteus Advanced Systems’ General Manager, Ron Tryfus.
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. Blue Spear missiles share a heritage with IAI’s Gabriel missile family system which has been developed over many years.
The Blue Spear system enables launching from several land-based platforms with flight at high subsonic 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.