News

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.

On Sunday, Dec. 8, the active phase of Exercise Pikne concluded with a field training exercise including offensive and defensive battles. The coming week will include live-fire exercises for Allied units at the Sirgala training area.

On Saturday, December 7, members of the Regional Command North-East of the Estonian Defence League held simulated defensive battles as part of multinational military exercise Pikne. Units from Estonia, France, the United Kingdom and Latvia were involved in the training.  

On Saturday, December 7, exercise Pikne concluded for Estonian and Allied naval vessels. During the last days of the exercise, the naval units practiced cooperation on patrolling the maritime areas and protecting the ships against threats from other vessels and drones.

The Military Intelligence Center of Estonian Defence Forces has set up a hotline on its website to expand the possibilities of collecting information for the purpose of ensuring national security.

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.