Deutsche Walle:

Two Baltic NATO members, Estonia and Latvia, are to begin negotiations to purchase the medium-range IRIS-T SLM defense system from its German manufacturer, Estonia’s Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

Both countries, which border Russia, have greatly increased their defense budgets since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February last year. Neither of the nations possesses an air force and both rely on NATO to patrol their airspace.

Deliveries of the system, manufactured by weapons maker Diehl Defence, could begin next year and possibly become operational in 2025.

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