Washington approves Javelin sale to Estonia
The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $296 million Foreign Military Sale to Estonia that includes 800 FGM-148F Javelin missiles and related equipment, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced last week.
In a statement released on 22 May, DSCA said the sale will include 800 missiles—eight of which are designated for evaluation—and 84 Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLUs).
The approval adds to a previous case that had included 12 launchers and training equipment valued at $10.18 million.
The request from the Government of Estonia also covers non-missile items such as simulation rounds, battery coolant units, spare parts, tool kits, training services, and technical assistance. The principal contractors will be the Javelin Joint Venture between RTX Corporation in Tucson, Arizona, and Lockheed Martin in Orlando, Florida.
According to the DSCA, “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”
The agency emphasized that the sale aligns with U.S. efforts to enhance the interoperability of NATO forces, improve Estonia’s defense posture, and support its role in collective European security. “Estonia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” DSCA said.
Officials noted that the sale will not affect the overall military balance in the region. There are currently no offset agreements proposed as part of this transaction, though such arrangements may be negotiated between Estonia and the contractors.
The U.S. government clarified that no additional U.S. personnel will be deployed to Estonia to facilitate the sale and that the deal will not affect American defense readiness.
The FGM-148F Javelin, with its fire-and-forget guidance system and top-attack capability, has proven effective against armored targets in current conflict zones, including Ukraine.
