From December 10 to 12, Estonian and Allied units conducted a Live Fire Exercise at Sirgala training area as part of multinational military exercise Pikne.
“In the course of the exercise we practiced defensive activities against an adversary that was stopped at our first positions. The adversary then tried to flank us from both sides, forcing us to relocate to new positions and, in the final phase, we conducted an ambush in order to destroy the main forces of the adversary,” said Major Yves from the French 126th Infantry Regiment. “During the exercise we used small arms and anti-tank weapons, supported by armoured personnel carriers Griffon equipped with a heavy machine guns and smoke grenades.”
The Live Fire Exercise were a useful opportunity for the Allies to gain experience regarding Estonia’s natural features. “The terrain and weather are obviously a challenge for us. We are not used to operating in such weather conditions and temperatures, but it is always interesting to have the opportunity to practice in different conditions,” added Major Yves. The Live Fire Exercise was carried out in close cooperation between the troops from France, UK, U.S. and Estonia.
The international military exercise Pikne, conducted from December 2-15, 2024, is led by the Estonian Division and nearly 2,000 troops from Estonia, Latvia, USA, France and United Kingdom participate in it. During the first week of the exercise, the focus was on deployment of units and increasing interoperability. During the second week of the exercise, a Live Fire Exercise (LFX) will be conducted at the Sirgala training area.
