U.S. State Department approves potential HIMARS sale to Estonia worth $500 million

U.S. Marines with 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment set up an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in front of an AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar with Marine Air Control Group (MACG) 18 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, June 13, 2022, in support of Valiant Shield 2022. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps by Cpl. Tyler Harmon) - pics/2022/07/59419_001_t.jpg — U.S. Marines with 5th Battalion, 11th Marine Regiment set up an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in front of an AN/TPS-80 Ground/Air Task Oriented Radar with Marine Air Control Group (MACG) 18 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, June 13, 2022, in support of Valiant Shield 2022. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps by Cpl. Tyler Harmon)

The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of HIMARS rocket systems to Estonia, said Pentagon on Friday.

HIMARS systems donated by the United States and allies are being effectively employed by Ukraine in its fight with Russia.

The package approved for Estonia would include up to six M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, munitions, support equipment, spares and technical support, a deal worth approx $US500 million.

Despite approval by the State Department, the notification does not indicate that contracts have been signed or that negotiations have concluded.

Poland has also expressed interest to buy up to 500 HIMARS systems from US.