Estonia will host a new Lockheed Martin sustainment centre for HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems), following an agreement reached between Estonian Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur and Lockheed Martin Vice President Paula J. Hartley at a meeting in Washington. The American defence giant would construct a sustainment centre to serve all of the Baltic nations.
The facility, which will serve all three Baltic nations, is expected to be operational within two years, with an initial investment of approximately 10 million euros.
Following the meeting, Minister Pevkur noted that the establishment of a presence in Estonia of one of the world’s biggest defence companies is a sign of trust and willingness to launch long-term cooperation. “We have worked very hard to bring Lockheed Martin to Estonia, and the agreement that has been struck here today is hopefully just the start of a larger, long-running partnership,” he said.
Lockheed Martin´s HIMARS sustainment centre will serve all the Baltic nations
The minister added that the two sides also discussed the potential for expanding Lockheed Martin‘s footprint in Estonia over time. “We also discussed the possibility of increasing Lockheed Martin’s presence in due course, with Vice President Hartley noting that prospects for furthering cooperation are very positive,” Minister Pevkur added.
A Lockheed Martin delegation is expected to visit Estonia in the near future, possibly as early as next week.
Lockheed Martin is a major American defence industry giant known not only for its HIMARS rocket systems, but also for the fifth-generation F-35 fighter jet, Patriot air defence systems, and Black Hawk helicopters, used by NATO and allied forces.
Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest defence contractor by revenue, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. Founded in 1995 through the merger of Lockheed Corporation and Martin Marietta, the company employs around 120,000 people globally and reported revenues of approximately 68 billion USD in 2023.
GOOD TO KNOW
Estonia cooperates extensively both within NATO and with a wider block of allies. Recently, South Korean defence giant Hanwha Aerospace announced a direct investment package of nearly €100M in Estonia, with the total economic impact — including joint R&D activities with local companies — projected to reach up to €260M. The investment aims to strengthen Estonia’s technological sovereignty and establish the country as a regional hub for territorial defence systems.
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