Estonia boosts antitank arsenal with Spike SR
Spike SR being test-fired in Estonia. (Photo: Rafael)
Single-use Spike SR will join Spike LR in the Estonian military equipment inventory.
The Estonian Centre for Defence Investment (ECDI) has ordered an undisclosed number of Spike SR man-portable short-range antitank weapons from the EuroSpike consortium for about €40 million.
The deal to equip infantry brigades in the Estonian Defence Forces and the paramilitary Estonian Defence League includes training materials and services, ECDI noted in a 20 January statement.
EuroSpike demonstrated Spike SR in Estonia in November 2020.
Initial deliveries of the single-use Spike SR will be made this year, said ECDI armament manager Ramil Lipp, adding that Estonia saved ’nearly two million euros on the expected total cost of the project’.
Spike SR will replace 90mm towed antitank guns used by the Estonian Defence League. The Estonian Defence Forces had operated the MILAN antitank missile system but retired this weapon ’years ago’, ECDI stated.
Lt Col Martin Kukk of the Estonian Defence Forces explained that there is a 1,500m-range antitank capability at battalion level ’but with the addition of the Spike SR, infantry companies will also gain the same capability’.
The Estonian Defence Forces already have the Spike LR2 anti-tank missile in their arsenal.
In July 2021, the Estonian Navy hosted a demonstration by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Oshkosh Defense involving Spike NLOS missiles fired at BLoS naval targets from a launcher on an Oshkosh Joint Light Tactical Vehicle.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Land Warfare
-
![Estonia takes delivery of six HIMARS]()
Estonia takes delivery of six HIMARS
Estonia has taken delivery of six Lockheed Martin High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) weapons. The delivery comes only a month after Australia received its first system and the company outlined plans to improve missiles fired from the system.
-
![Thales to modernise Netherlands TACTIS combined arms trainer]()
Thales to modernise Netherlands TACTIS combined arms trainer
Thales will modernise the Royal Netherlands Army’s TACTIS simulation system over eight years with enhanced synthetic environments, new simulators for the CV9035NL, Boxer and Leopard 2 tanks.
-
![Hanwha contracted to develop radar for South Korean missile defence]()
Hanwha contracted to develop radar for South Korean missile defence
Hanwha will develop the multi-function radar of the Low Altitude Missile Defense (LAMD), work which is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2028.
-
![Anduril Industries unveils improved electromagnetic warfare system]()
Anduril Industries unveils improved electromagnetic warfare system
Pulsar-L has already entered service and weighs about 12kg with range of 5km. It was only in May last year that the company disclosed that earlier versions were already in service.
-
![Romania approved for additional $280 million Patriot Air Defence System buy]()
Romania approved for additional $280 million Patriot Air Defence System buy
The possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) from the US will cover the system and any related equipment with Lockheed Martin and RTX as primary contractors.
