Ukraine conflict: Spain extends NASAMS unit rotation in Estonia

Spanish Minister of Defense Margarita Robles and her Estonian counterpart, Hanno Pevkur, agreed that Spain would extend its NASAMS air-defence unit rotation in Estonia on 29 August. (Estonian MoD)

Spanish Minister of Defense Margarita Robles and her Estonian counterpart, Hanno Pevkur, agreed on the fringes of the 29–30 August EU defence ministerial meeting in Toledo, Spain, that Madrid would extend its National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) anti-air defence unit (UDAA) rotation in Estonia, the Baltic state's Ministry of Defence (MoD) announced in a press release on 29 August.

Welcoming “the Spanish commitment to NATO's deterrence and defence posture in Estonia”, Pevkur said the NASAMS UDAA “has already provided a valuable co-operation opportunity for the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF)”.

An Estonian MoD spokesperson told Janes on 30 August that the Spanish NASAMS UDAA, which was deployed to Estonia in April under the command of NATO's Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), currently US Army General Christopher Cavoli, would stay until December.

Pevkur said Estonia and Latvia would sign a contract with Diehl Defence for IRIS-T SLM (Surface-Launched Medium-range) air-defence systems in September.

He added that the EDF and Estonian Air Force have already gained experience in the tactical command of medium-range air-defence systems from the Spanish NASAMS UDAA since it was deployed in Estonia in April.

Spain deployed a 100-strong NASAMS UDAA to Lielvārde Air Base in Latvia in 2022.