Introduction

Estonia has relied on Israeli arms supplies since it gained independence from the Soviet Union in the early 1990s, when Israel was the only country willing to provide it with NATO-standard military equipment. Since 2019, Estonia has embarked on a new wave of Israeli defense procurement. The largest transactions have been with Israel Aerospace Industries, including two separate deals, each estimated at around €100 million, for the acquisition of Blue Spear anti-ship missiles and long-range loitering munitions. These were accompanied by additional multi-million-euro agreements for Rafael’s Spike anti-tank missiles, Elbit’s mortars and other systems including cyber technologies like Cellebrite’s device hacking software.

Estonia-Israel Relations

Israel recognized the Republic of Estonia in September 1991, shortly after Estonia declared independence. Diplomatic relations were formed between the countries in January 1992.^[1]Republic of Estonia Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Israel, 28.06.2023 The two countries have signed multiple bilateral agreements covering cultural, educational, scientific and economic cooperation.^[2]Estonian State Announcements, Classification of international agreements on the basis of the parties – Israel In 2024 Estonia exported to Israel goods in €72.3 million and imported from Israel goods in €41.4 million, 76.3% of the goods imported from Israel (€31.6 million) were composed of weapons and ammunition.^[3]Estonian Statistics, Foreign Trade: Israel

Relations have strengthened in recent years; in November 2025, Israel opened a new embassy in Tallinn.^[4]Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FM Sa’ar opens new Israeli embassy in Tallinn, 11.11.2025

Military Relation

In January 1993, Estonia secured a $60 million arms deal with Israeli state-owned manufacturer TAAS/IMI to equip an entire light infantry division of 11,000–12,000 soldiers. With Western governments unwilling to sell weapons to the newly independent state and Soviet-era rifles deemed inadequate, Israel was the only reliable source of modern, NATO-standard equipment. The package included Galil assault rifles, Uzi submachine guns, Negev light machine guns, MAPATS anti-tank guided missiles, 50 23-mm anti-aircraft cannons, communications equipment, flak jackets and other military gear. The deal was enabled by a long-term credit arrangement.^[5]Estonian Yearbook of Military History, Republic of Estonia on the Road Back to the West. Background and Reality of the Israeli Arms Deal 1992/1993, 10.12.2014^[6]Radio Tallinn, ESTONIA ACQUIRES ISRAELI MILITARY EQUIPMENT, 03.01.1993^[7]UPI, Estonia to make ammunition for Israeli arms, 23.11.1993^[8]Milmag, Estonia seek for rifles, 05.07.2017

Available evidence suggests that Estonia may also have acquired the B-300, an anti-tank weapon system that has been in Estonia’s possession since at least 1997^[9]ESTONIAN DEFENCE FORCES E-LEARNING PORTAL, Mart VENDLA 1997. “Granaadiheitja B-300 õpetamine”. Juhendaja J. Haud and B-455, a 81mm mortar that is listed under Estonia in the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms from 2006.^[10]United Nations General Assembly, United Nations Register of Conventional Arms, 24.07.2006 Both were developed by Israeli companies, IMI and Soltam respectively.

Since 2019, Estonia has signed a series of weapons procurement agreements with Israel. A €40 million deal to provide Spike anti-tank missiles to the Estonian army,^[11]Globes, Estonia signs deal for Rafael anti-tank missiles, 24.6.2019 was the first in a series of acquisitions from Israeli defense companies, several of them worth tens of millions of euros or more.^[12]Globes, Israel Aerospace wins €100m Estonian munitions deal, 02.05.2023 Reports and press releases from late 2025 indicate that the Estonian government intends to further expand security cooperation with Israel.^[13]Defence Industry Europe, Estonia unveils €10 billion procurement plan to strengthen defence capabilities by 2029, 30.07.2025^[14]Trend, Estonia sets sights on expanding defense ties with Israel – MoD (Exclusive), 24.11.2025 Below is a chronological list of arms deals and developments in security relations between Israel and Estonia in recent years.

June 2019: The Estonian government procurement agency and EuroSpike, jointly owned by Israeli state-owned defense company Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and German companies Rheinmetall Group and Diehl Defense, signed a €40 million deal to provide Spike anti-tank missiles to the Estonian army. The missiles were developed by Rafael. Deliveries are scheduled to start in 2020 and continue for over seven years. The contract included an option to procure additional missiles according to requirements and the operational needs of the Estonian army.^[15]Globes, Estonia signs deal for Rafael anti-tank missiles, 24.6.2019^[16]Army Recognition, Estonia buys Spike antitank missiles from Eurospike, 21.06.2019

September 2020: The Estonian Defense Forces conducted a demonstration of SPIKE SR (Short Range) missiles. The event was attended by several European delegations.^[17]Israel Defense, SPIKE SR missile capabilities demonstrated by Estonian Army, 24.11.2020

October 2020: The Israeli company Uvision and the Estonian company Milrem formed a joint venture to integrate loitering-munition launchers onto Milrem robotic platforms. Under the venture, Milrem’s robotic combat vehicle (RCV) and the unmanned ground vehicle THeMIS were equipped with Uvision’s Hero-120 and Hero-400EC loitering munition systems.^[18]Israel Defense, Israel’s Uvision, Estonia’s Milrem form venture to equip robotic vehicles with loitering munitions, 08.10.2020

September 2021: Estonia signed a €15 million contract in September 2021 with Elbit Systems to provide 120mm mortars, including lifecycle support.^[19]Shephard, Estonia orders Israeli mortars, 10.11.2021

October 2021: Estonia signed a major defense contract to purchase the Blue Spear mobile anti-ship missile system, developed by Proteus Advanced Systems, an Israeli-Singaporean joint venture composed of Israel Aerospace Industries and ST Engineering. The project costs are estimated at €100 million, including infrastructure investments and future costs.^[20]ST engineering, Estonian Centre for Defence Investment signs contract with Proteus Advanced Systems to equip the Estonian Defence Forces with Blue Spear (5G SSM) missile systems, 06.10.2021^[21]ERR, Long-range anti-ship missile system arrives in Estonia. 10.02.2024

February 2022: The Estonian army awarded the Israeli company Meprolight a €6 million contract for immediate delivery of 6,500 red-dot projection sights.^[22]Israel Defense, Meprolight Sells Thousands of Sights to Estonian Army, 14.02.2022

March 2022: A 2022 New York Times investigation reported that Estonia began negotiating with Israel to purchase NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware in 2018. Estonia made a substantial down payment on the $30 million system after receiving initial Israeli authorization. However, in 2019, a senior Russian defense official warned Israeli authorities that Russia was aware of Estonia’s plans to use the system. Following this, Israel’s Ministry of Defense restricted Estonia from using Pegasus against Russian targets worldwide.^[23]The New York Times, Israel, Fearing Russian Reaction, Blocked Spyware for Ukraine and Estonia, 23.02.2022

October 2022: The Estonian Ministry of Interior IT & Development Centre signed a contract  to purchase licenses for Cellebrite’s software, used to unlock mobile phones and computers. Since 2022 Estonia signed contracts for Cellebrite’s licenses and renewals for at least €300,000.^[24]EU Tenders, 785282-2025 – Result, 26.11.2025^[25]Teamtik, Siseministeeriumi infotehnoloogia- ja arenduskeskus, searched on 07.12.2025

March 2023: The Estonian army signed a contract to purchase about 1,000 NG7 “Negev” light machine guns manufactured by the Israeli IWI.^[26]Israel Defense, IWI to supply Estonia with NG7 Negev machine guns, 13.03.2023

May 2023: The Estonian Ministry of Defense signed a major contract with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) to acquire long-range loitering munitions. The exact type of weapons procured were not disclosed, but the images accompanying IAI’s press release and the on Estonian MoD’s Twitter page, showed Mini-Harpy and Harop loitering munitions. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur referred to a “nine-figure contract”, suggesting the contract is worth at least €100 million.^[27]European Security & Defence, Estonia Places Major Loitering Munition Order with IAI, 03.05.2023^[28]IAI, Estonia has signed a contract with Israel Aerospace Industries to acquire long-range loitering munitions, 02.05.2023^[29]Globes, Israel Aerospace wins €100m Estonian munitions deal, 02.05.2023

July 2025: The Estonian Ministry of Defense unveiled a four-year defense development plan valued at over €10 billion. The plan includes procurement of drones, electronic warfare systems, combat vehicles, ballistic missile defense capabilities, patrol boats, maritime surveillance equipment and additional Blue Spear missile systems by IAI.^[30]Defence Industry Europe, Estonia unveils €10 billion procurement plan to strengthen defence capabilities by 2029, 30.07.2025

September 2025: The Israeli company Bagira won a $750,000 contract to supply Estonia with a Joint Fires Training & Exercise System (JFTES). The system includes simulation, mission rehearsal, and interoperability tools.^[31]Israel Defense, Bagira Wins NATO JTAC Joint Fires Training Contract for Estonia, 25.09.2025

August 2025: Roman Palaria, a Corporate Regional Director at Rafael, said in an interview that the company is exploring plans to establish a maintenance center for Spike anti-tank missile systems in the Baltic States, and confirmed that subcontractors in Estonia are already integrated into Rafael’s supply chain.^[32]Caliber, Israeli defence giant plans Spike missile service centre in Baltic States, 06.08.2025

November 2025: The Estonian Ministry of Defense’s spokesperson told the newspaper Trend that Estonia and Israel are actively exploring new opportunities for cooperation between their defense industries, with a strong potential for joint development programs and technological collaboration.^[33]Trend, Estonia sets sights on expanding defense ties with Israel – MoD (Exclusive), 24.11.2025

August 2026: Estonia is considering acquiring Israel’s David’s Sling long-range air defense system in a procurement expected to exceed €1 billion.^[34]Calcalist, Estonia weighs David’s Sling in billion-euro missile defense decision, 24.08.2026

Joint Drills

Saber Strike exercise 2018: A US-led exercise held in Estonia, with participation of Israel alongside 19 more countries.^[35]Estonian World, Israel to participate in the Saber Strike exercise, 25.05.2018

IDF international seminar November 2025: Representatives from the Estonian Army participated, alongside delegations from United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, Finland, India, Greece, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Austria, Morocco, Japan, Romania, Serbia, and Slovakia in an international seminar held by the IDF on lessons learned from the recent war.^[36]The Times of Israel, The IDF holding ‘international seminar’ on lessons learned from war, 16.11.2025

Usage of Israeli Arms

Litening pods: Litening pods, developed by Rafael, were used in Estonia on Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft operated by the German Air Force, as part of NATO Baltic Air Policing mission in 2014.^[37]The Aviatonist, German Typhoons have intercepted 7 Russian Air Force combat planes over the Baltic Sea today, 28.10.2014 In 2019 Gripen combat aircraft that are part of NATO Integrated Air Defense System, equipped with Litening 4i pods, have participated in a four-month long mission to protect the Baltic airspace of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.^[38]Saab, The Czech Air Force Marks 15 Years of Gripen Operations, 20.04.2020^[39]SAAB, Two decades of Gripen fighters in the Czech Air Force – making the skies safe, 16.04.2025

Circles: An investigation by the Citizen Lab determined that the Estonian government was a likely customer of the Israeli cyber-espionage firm Circles.^[40]The Citizen Lab, Running in Circles Uncovering the Clients of Cyberespionage Firm Circles, 01.12.2020

Cellebrite: Cellebrite’s technology, used to unlock mobile electronic devices and extract information, have been used by Estonian law enforcement agencies since before 2023. In October 2022 the Ministry of Interior IT & Development Centre awarded a €40,685 contract to Cellebrite for software licenses. In August 2023 another €96,000 contract was signed through a third company, Moonsoft Oy, for Cellebrite’s licenses. The last contract with Cellebrite for digital forensics software licenses and training was awarded in October 2025 for €160,000.^[41]EU Tenders, 785282-2025 – Result, 26.11.2025^[42]Teamtik, Siseministeeriumi infotehnoloogia- ja arenduskeskus, searched on 07.12.2025