The Estonian Ministry of Defense and LMT Defense have signed a contract to provide the Estonian Defense Forces with a preliminary order for 16,000 rifles. As you remember very well, we have already informed you about the success of LMT in the their pursuit of a contract for delivering new rifles for this country.

LMT has left many defeated arms manufacturing giants, including SIG Sauer and Heckler & Koch. The signed contract concerns both the MARS-L 5.56 x 45 mm assault rifles and the 7.62 x 51 mm DMS MARS-H DMR rifles. Deliveries of the new rifles are expected to start in early 2020.

The contract was signed in Iowa by representatives of the Estonian government, including Priit Soosar, head of procurement at the Center for Defense Investments, who signed the contract and the Estonian ambassador to the United States Jonathan Vseviov. LMT was represented by the company's CEO, Karl Lewis.

According to the Estonians, the delay in signing the contract was caused by SIG Sauer filing an official appeal against the decision after the LMT design was selected. After the second appeal however, awarding the contract to LMT was maintained and the contract was finally confirmed in May 2019.

Sources: guns.com,  army-technology.com, thefirearmblog.com