A joint venture of Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) and ST Engineering Land Systems has delivered the Blue Spear 5G SSM anti-ship missile system to Estonia.
The sea-skimming missile system was procured in 2021 as part of “Estonia’s comprehensive coastal defense complex solution,” the country’s defense procurement agency said.
“The presence of Blue Spears in the Navy significantly increases the firing range of the Estonian Defence Forces and strengthens deterrence against a potential aggressor,” Estonian Minister of Defense Hanno Pevkur said.
💪 The Blue Spear Anti-Ship Missile System has arrived in 🇪🇪 #Estonia. With a striking range of up to 2⃣9⃣0⃣ kilometres, it marks a quantum leap for our #defence. https://t.co/z5YXVXpAZ1
— MoD Estonia (@MoD_Estonia) February 9, 2024
Missile Features
A derivative of the IAI’s Gabriel V anti-ship missile, the $5-million jointly developed missile boasts day-and-night, all-weather capability, and a range of 290 kilometers (180 miles).
It features both programmable and automation modes, including fire-and-update capability in addition to fire-and-forget, an active radar homing seeker, and an advanced weapons control system for precise target detection and strike.
Additional features include a hardened communication network that renders it immune to electronic countermeasures.
“The Blue Spear 5G anti-ship missile system, together with sea mines, forms the cornerstone of Estonian maritime defense for the coming decades,” Estonian Navy Commander Commodore Juri Saska added.
