According to information published by the ERR website on December 23, 2021, Estonia took delivery of Blocker also called PM16, naval mines manufactured by the Finnish company Forcit Defence. The procurement deal includes the software used in deploying the mines.
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Estonia took delivery of Blocker also called PM16, naval mine. (Picture source EstoniaDefence Investment Centre)
According to information published on July 2021, the Estonian Defense Investment Center announced a deal with a Finnish firm for the procurement of naval mines as well as anti-ship missiles. The picture published by the Estonian Defense Investment Center shows the Forcit “Blocker“, known in Finnish service under the name of PM16.
Sea mines form a key part of Estonia's long-term strategic vision, with coastal defenses seen as critical in permitting freedom of movement at sea, both for Estonian vessels and those of its allies, and in defending against seaborne assaults and the consequent opening up of further land fronts, said the Commander of the Estonian Navy (Merevägi) Cdre Jüri Säska.
The Blocker is a naval mine manufactured by the Finnish company Forcit Defence, a developer and manufacturer of innovative Defence systems since the 1920’s. Since the early 1980’s we have been developing world-class Insensitive Munitions, Plastic Bonded Explosives (PBX) products.
The Blocker is categorized as an influence sea mine actuated by the effect of a target on some physical condition in the vicinity of the mine or on radiations emanating from the mine.
The bottom of the Blocker mine is filled with 560 kg of the company's Foxit plastic-bonded explosive, with an FXP R1 PBE booster charge. This provides high shock and bubble energy output. Foxit is certified as extremely insensitive under NATO Standard Agreement STANAG 4439.
