News

On Wednesday, a United States Air Force B-52H Stratofortress strategic bombers made an overflight of Estonia as a part of exercise. The aircraft were accompanied by several British, French and Romanian jets.

Estonian Defense Forces unit Estcoy-18, on deployment in Iraq, have joined the Walking Blood Bank, a medical program of the United States Armed Forces that has saved many lives over decades. Estonia became the first allied nation to join, registering their soldiers in Erbil Air Base who would immediately come to donate blood when called upon.

This year's largest naval exercise in the Baltic Sea, Baltops 23, will begin on Saturday in Tallinn. More than 30 NATO warships and nearly 3,700 sailors will arrive in the capital in the coming days for the exercise.

The Spring Storm 23 exercise, which took place from May 15th to 26th, has come to an end. Nearly 14,000 participants, including conscripts, reservists, active-duty soldiers, Defence League members, and allied forces from eleven countries, took part in the exercise.

The active phase of the Spring Storm exercise concluded today with defensive battles in fortified positions, where the task of Company C of the Kalev Infantry Battalion of the 1st Infantry Brigade was to repel attacks by mechanized enemy units with the support of engineers and anti-aircraft artillery.

On the night of Friday, a British Royal Marine amphibious raid took place on Kaberneeme Beach as part of Exercise Spring Storm 23. The objective of the amphibious raid was to practice eliminating high-value targets and the withdrawal of the marines back to the sea.

After initial days of unit formation and refresher training, the Estonian Defence Forces, Defence League members, reservists, and allies participating in Exercise Spring Storm 23 are ready to begin the more active phase of the exercise.

The annual field training exercise Spring Storm started on May 15 with the formation of reserve units, followed by movement to assembly areas to commence the joint operational training.

Last week additional United States infantry members arrived at the Taara base in Võru, increasing the number of U.S. servicemembers in Taara camp to over 330 military personnel. The U.S. infantry unit continues to train and serve with the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the Estonian Defence Forces, including participation in the exercise Spring Storm 2023.

The Government of the Republic of Estonia decided to declare a defence readiness exercise Okas (Quill) with up to 607 members of territorial defence units ordered to participate the snap exercise (SNAPEX). Exercise Okas is of a defensive manner, aimed at practicing national defence activities. There is no immediate security threat to Estonia.