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The Estonian government on Thursday approved acquisition of infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and support vehicles for the defense forces from the Netherlands.
Estonian govt greenlights purchase of infantry fighting vehicles
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The Defense Ministry is holding talks with the Netherlands over the acquisition of CV9035 armored vehicles. In addition, it is planned to buy support vehicles Leopard 1 and equipment, spare parts, tools, and ammunition.
Acquiring IFVs is a large-scale and long-running project that will last for a minimum four years, therefore the procurement is conducted pursuant to the Peacetime National Defense Act according to which the government decides acquisition of defense equipment in special cases at the defense or the interior minister's proposal, the government's press service has earlier said.
Estonia wants to buy 44 IFVs and plans to sign the agreement by the end of this year. The vehicles are to be put at the disposal of the Scouts Battalion.
Defense Minister Sven Mikser and his Dutch counterpart Jeanine Hennis-Plasschaert signed in September a letter of intent related to the introduction in the Estonian defense forces of CV90s. Under the document, the defense forces of the two countries will exchange information about the training, tactics, ammunition used by, and training grounds of mechanized units.
The first instalment for the fighting vehicles in the amount of 8.2 million euros is written into the Defense Ministry's 2015 budget.