Estonia rejected ammunition that failed to fire, Vaher says

Estonia has not accepted ammunition that failed to fire and therefore cannot send it to Ukraine, Elmar Vaher, director general of the State Defence Investment Centre, told ERR’s Vikerraadio programme Uudis+.

Vaher said Estonia, which has pledged to help Ukraine win the war, could not supply ammunition that did not work.

He said defence procurements follow an agreed process within the area governed by the Ministry of Defence. The commander of the Defence Forces first submits military advice, followed by an assessment of the funding needed to implement the plan.

The Defence Forces then submit proposals on what needs to be procured. These are called minimum military requirements, or MMRs. The State Defence Investment Centre begins its work on that basis.

The planning covers four years, with the centre using a four-year budget and a rolling budget that is continuously updated.

The centre begins with market research to identify possible solutions and companies able to supply the required goods. It also conducts initial background checks as permitted under the Public Procurement Act and, when necessary, consults the Internal Security Service or the Foreign Intelligence Service.

Proposals are first submitted to the secretary general of the Ministry of Defence for review. All procurements exceeding 250,000 euros reach a decision-making meeting, where the centre presents options to the defence minister.

If the proposal receives approval, the procurement procedure begins. Vaher described this as the general process for large procurements.

He said the ministry and minister do not read or sign the contracts. The State Defence Investment Centre prepares and signs them, with negotiations conducted by its own team, including procurement specialists and experts in the relevant weapons system. External legal advisers or Defence Forces specialists may also be involved when necessary.

Instead of approving contracts, the ministry receives a memorandum setting out the work completed in advance, including background and market research, as well as confirmation that funding has been secured and planned.

Vaher said funding must cover not only the purchase itself but also the equipment’s life cycle, including maintenance and training provided by the Defence Forces.

The proposals presented to the ministry include the names of the companies, prices and delivery times. The defence minister also hears the views of the commander of the Defence Forces, the deputy secretary general for defence capability and the secretary general before a decision is made.

According to Vaher, the outcome is generally either approval or rejection.