During Exercise Spring Storm 2024, the Estonian Navy’s Coastal Defence Squadron and the Polish Naval Missile Unit are jointly practicing simulated fire missions against maritime targets.
“We have collaborated with the Poles for years and learned much from them, but with the arrival of anti-ship missiles in our own arsenal, this cooperation has deepened significantly. Now, we can practice all procedures together, from identifying targets to launching missiles,” said Captain Johan-Elias Seljamaa, Deputy Commander of the Navy.
During the exercise, targets at sea are first identified using various sensors. Information is collected at the Navy’s Maritime Operations Centre in Tallinn, and orders are then delegated to units on the field.
During exercise Spring Storm, the Estonian Navy’s Coastal Defence Squadron is located in Western Estonia, and the Polish Missile Unit is stationed on Saaremaa to cover the key maritime areas of Estonia with anti-ship capabilities. This setup has also provided the Navy with the opportunity to practice the entire logistical chain, from the deployment of allied units to Estonia to resupplying in the field.
“We arrived in the field this week, and now we are fully prepared to execute fire missions based on the coordinates received from the Maritime Operations Centre. The foundation of this cooperation has been good communication with our Estonian colleagues, which is why we look forward to returning to Spring Storm every year,” said Second Lieutenant Jakub Pagórski, Commander of the Polish Naval Missile Unit.
According to the head of the supply section of the Estonian Navy’s Combat Service Support Squadron, their unit is fully prepared to logistically support the allied Polish coastal defence units.
“We have successfully addressed the first logistical challenges with the Poles. Fuel has been refueled, food and water have been distributed, and the unit has started carrying out its combat tasks,” said Lieutenant Olari Albert, head of the supply section of the Navy’s Combat Service Support Squadron.
In addition to the Combat Service Support Squadron and the Coastal Defence Squadron, the Navy is participating in this year’s Spring Storm with the minelayer ENS Wambola, the minehunter ENS Admiral Cowan, and the patrol ships ENS Kindral Kurvits and ENS Raju.
During Spring Storm, Estonian Navy’s units are practicing mining maritime areas, conducting force protection for vessels and land units, maritime surveillance, and anti-ship procedures.
The Spring Storm exercise involves units from the army, air force and navy, including the Division Headquarters, the 1st and 2nd Infantry Brigades, the Support Command, the Cyber Command, and other units of the Estonian Defence Forces and the Estonian Defence League. Participants include NATO Battlegroup’s members serving in Estonia as well as military personnel from allied and partner countries. In total, approximately 14,000 soldiers are participating in the exercise.
Spring Storm is the largest annual exercise of the Estonian Defence Forces, during which military operations planning and execution are practiced, as well as enhanced cooperation between Estonian and allied units. The exercise involves active-duty military personnel, conscripts, reservists, members of the Estonian Defence League, and participants from allied nations.
Spring Storm 2024 is part of the NATO exercise series Steadfast Defender 2024, representing a significant component of this extensive NATO exercise. Steadfast Defender 2024 is the largest NATO exercise in decades, with nearly 90,000 participants from all 32 member states participating over a six-month period from January to July 2024. The broader framework for the exercise has been set by confirmed NATO regional defence plans.
