The US State Department approves Javelin FMS for Estonia
Peter Felstead
The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Estonia of Javelin anti-tank missiles and related equipment, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 22 May 2025.
The proposed FMS, which is worth an estimated USD 296 million (EUR 261 million), has been passed to the US Congress for final approval.
Estonia has requested to buy 800 FGM-148F Javelin missiles (including eight fly-to-buy missiles) and an additional 72 Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LwCLUs) that will be added to a previously implemented case, the value of which was under the congressional notification threshold.
The original FMS case, valued at USD 10.18 million (USD 3.1 million in Major Defence Equipment (MDE)), included 12 LwCLUs; LwCLU basic skills trainers; Javelin missile simulation rounds; battery coolant units; spare parts; tool kits and support equipment; equipment training; US government and contractor technical assistance and services; engineering services; and related elements of logistics and programme support.
This notification is thus for a combined 800 FGM-148F Javelin missiles (including eight fly-to-buy missiles) and 84 LwCLUs, along with the related equipment and support.
The DSCA stated that the proposed FMS “will enhance Estonia’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible force that is capable of deterring adversaries and participating in NATO operations” and “will support its goal of improving national and territorial defense as well as interoperability with US and NATO forces”.
Estonia first received older-model FGM-148E Javelin missiles, including 80 command launch units, in 2015 after ordering them in 2014.
The principal contractors for the Estonian Javelin FMS will be the Javelin Joint Venture between RTX Corporation, located in Tucson, Arizona, and Lockheed Martin, located in Orlando, Florida.
