Tallinn, Estonia - The Estonian Centre for Defence Investment (Riigi Kaitseinvesteeringute Keskus, RKIK) has awarded a €50 million framework contract to Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace AS for the maintenance, repair, and supply of spare parts for the SPH K9 Integrated Combat Solution (ICS) system used by the Estonian Defence Forces.
The agreement, officially announced in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJ S 182/2025) under Contract Notice 622407-2025, represents a critical step in ensuring the long-term operational readiness and lifecycle support of Estonia’s self-propelled howitzer systems.
Ensuring combat readiness across Estonia
Under the Customer Logistics Support Agreement (ICS Estonia), signed on 26 August 2025, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace will provide comprehensive maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for the K9 artillery platform’s Integrated Combat Solution systems. The deal also includes the procurement of spare parts and consumables, ensuring uniform configuration and continued interoperability across all Estonian K9 units.
The project scope covers all five Estonian regions - Northern, Southern, Western, Central, and Northeastern Estonia - allowing for flexible support deployment and full nationwide coverage.
The contract, which is not financed through EU funds, was awarded through a negotiated procedure without prior call for competition, justified by exclusive technical and intellectual property rights. According to RKIK, Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace holds proprietary rights to the ICS system and is therefore the sole provider capable of performing maintenance and configuration updates.
Exclusive technical expertise and lifecycle support
Kongsberg Defence & Aerospace, headquartered in Kongsberg, Norway, is globally recognized for its advanced defence and aerospace technologies, including weapon control systems, communication solutions, and integrated command systems. As the original manufacturer of the ICS for K9 platforms, Kongsberg provides essential technical updates, lifecycle management, and system configuration integrity - ensuring consistent documentation and platform compatibility.
RKIK emphasized the technical necessity behind the direct award, noting that all K9 self-propelled howitzers in Estonia must remain in a uniform configuration to enable efficient lifecycle management and operational support. “Maintaining a single system architecture ensures interoperability, technical integrity, and continued support for software and hardware upgrades,” the authority stated in the award rationale.
Strategic importance for Estonian defence capabilities
The K9 Thunder artillery system, originally developed by South Korea’s Hanwha Aerospace and integrated with Kongsberg’s digital ICS, forms a vital part of Estonia’s modernized artillery capability. The maintenance agreement reinforces Estonia’s long-term defence readiness and its commitment to maintaining high levels of equipment availability within NATO operational standards.
By securing dedicated lifecycle support from the system’s original developer, Estonia strengthens its defence infrastructure amid a shifting European security landscape. The agreement also highlights growing Nordic-Baltic defence cooperation and technology transfer in the region.
The framework agreement, valued at up to €50 million, sets a foundation for sustained cooperation between Estonia and Kongsberg over multiple years, ensuring continuity in system support and technical evolution aligned with future defence modernization plans.
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