News

On Thursday, December 5, reserve troops of the Short-Range Air Defense Battery, Estonian Division, practiced countering air threats using man-portable air defence systems Piorun as part of exercise Pikne. The reservists were ordered to report to duty by the Estonian Government on December 3 with the announcement of initiating a snap exercise (SNAPEX) Okas 24-2 („Quill 24-2“).

Throughout this week, the minehunter FS Croix du Sud of the French Navy is involved in hunting historical ordnances in the eastern part of the Gulf of Finland as part of the exercise Pikne („Lightning“). The first ordnance was countermined on the 4th of December. 

Today, the units from the Regional Command North-East (RC N-E), Estonian Defence League (EDL), conducted a rehearsal of concept drill for upcoming simulated battles, that will be carried out in the upcoming days together with NATO Multinational Battlegroup stationed in Estonia.

Throughout this week, Estonian and Allied forces are practicing various air operations as part of the Pikne exercise, including close air support procedures. During the training allied aircraft also conduct low-altitude flights.

As part of the exercise Pikne, approximately 200 soldiers from the French Armed Forces' 3rd Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment arrived at Ämari Air Base today during a rapid deployment drill. The troops, transported by aircraft, relocated to integrate with the NATO multinational battlegroup permanently stationed in Estonia. The joint units are practicing responding to military threats on land, in the air, and at sea.

Reservists from the Engineer Battalion (1st Infantry Brigade) and the Air Defense Battery (Estonian Division), called up for snap exercise Okas 24-2 that began this Tuesday morning, are preparing to move to the exercise area to fulfill their tasks during Exercise Pikne.

The Government of the Republic of Estonia decided to declare a defence readiness exercise Okas 24-2 (Quill), with up to 250 members of the Engineer Battalion (1st Infantry Brigade) and Air Defence Battery (Estonian Division) ordered to participate in 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. 

Today, the two-week long international military exercise Pikne („Lightning“) begins in Estonia, during which supplementary Allied units will be rapidly deployed to Estonia to support and train together with the NATO multinational battlegroup and the Estonian Defence Forces in a simulated war situation.

From December 2 to 8, Allied Air Forces will conduct training flights in Estonian airspace with fighter jets and transport aircrafts as part of Exercise Pikne, including low-altitude flights. The training flights will take place in designated training areas.

On Monday, December 2, a two-week-long multinational military exercise Pikne (“lightning”) kicks off in Estonia, bringing increased Allied presence and activities on the sea, in the air and on land to North-East Estonia. Exercise Pikne is part of NATO Vigilance Activity Brilliant Eagle, focusing on Allied rapid deployability and interoperability in the Baltic Sea region.