Estonia signs largest ever defence deal for 44 infantry combat vehicles

photo Netherlands MoD

12/10/2014  Defence IQ Press

Estonia has put pen to paper on its largest defence procurement contract to date with the $171 million deal to buy 44 infantry combat vehicles from the Netherlands.

The Estonian Defence Forces will acquire the CV90 infantry vehicles from the Dutch government and are expected to enter service in 2016.

“The infantry vehicles will take the Estonian defence ability to a new level,” Defence Minister Sven Mikser said.

The deal comes at a time of increased regional tension as Russia continues its sabre rattling following the Ukrainian crisis. Other countries in the region such as Lithuania have begun bolstering their protected mobility capabilities in recent months.

Estonia has been working closely with the Netherlands for a range of defence supplies since 2004. Estonia has acquired over 1,100 trucks and SUVs, 500 trailers and staff containers and 81 SISU XA-188 armoured personnel carriers in the last decade.

Estonia’s largest defence deal before this was a $84.5 million contract with MBDA for its Mistral missiles.