Estonia receives first IRIS-T air defence systems at Ämari air base

On Monday, Estonia received medium-range air defence systems IRIS-T SLM, produced by German defence contractor Diehl Defence, which were accepted at Ämari air base. The system can engage targets up to 40 km away and 20 km high, and has proven itself in combat operations in Ukraine. In total, Estonia has procured three firing units, with the remaining two arriving in the coming year.

On Monday, 22 June 2026, the State Defence Investment Centre (RKIK) took delivery at Ämari air base of mobile medium-range air defence missile systems IRIS-T SLM produced by German defence contractor Diehl Defence. This represents a significant step in the development of Estonia's air defence.

New capability for Estonian skies

Air Force Commander Brigadier General Riivo Valge stressed that this is an important qualitative leap for Estonia's air defence. "This is an important day for the Defence Forces and the Air Force. We are only beginning our journey in building up air defence capabilities, and although it will take us months to ensure the necessary training for the system's operators and to deploy this system tactically in the field. We are currently making a strong qualitative leap in terms of air defence," said Valge.

The Brigadier General highlighted the system's most important advantage, its firing range, which prevents an adversary from flying over Estonia's defensive positions. "Since this system is tactical, the adversary must make these decisions in the final moment under time pressure, which creates conditions for errors that we can use to our advantage," he added.

Already proven in Ukraine

Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur stressed that the IRIS-T is a system that has already proven its worth in combat conditions. "The IRIS-T is a medium-range air defence system that has proven itself in Ukraine, which brings our air defence to a new level and gives us the ability to influence the adversary's actions significantly further away and higher than our previous short-range systems. The war in Ukraine has clearly shown that strong air defence is a central part of national defence," said Pevkur.

The IRIS-T SLM is capable of destroying enemy aircraft, helicopters and cruise missiles up to 40 km away and 20 km high. The system's rapid mobility allows it to respond flexibly to changing threat scenarios.

Three firing units in total

RKIK Director General Elmar Vaher explained that the joint procurement agreement with Diehl Defence was concluded in autumn 2023 together with Latvia. "I am pleased to see that the joint procurement agreement concluded in autumn 2023 with Latvia has reached an important milestone," said Vaher, adding that RKIK has procured a total of three firing units for the Estonian Defence Forces, the first of which has now arrived and the remaining ones will arrive in the coming year.

One firing unit consists of launching equipment, a radar and a fire control centre, complemented by support equipment such as maintenance equipment, spare parts and reload vehicles.

Diehl Defence: delivery demonstrates resilience

Diehl Defence CEO Helmut Rauch noted that the delivery to Estonia is remarkable in a market where demand is currently enormous. "The delivery to Estonia demonstrates that we are able to deliver even under the current significant pressure that the European air defence market is currently experiencing. With every system delivered, we strengthen our partners' defence capabilities, contribute measurably to the NATO alliance's security architecture, and thus help protect the Estonian people," said Rauch.