News

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.   

On November 4th, the Estonian Navy, together with NATO's Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group 1 (SNMCMG1), began a ten-day mine clearance operation in Estonian waters. During this operation, the Estonian Navy will search for, identify, and neutralize historical explosives in Pärnu Bay and the southern part of Väinameri.

French Army deputy chief of staff operations major general Wallaert and French deputy commander of Land Forces Command in Europe brigadier general Guillot are visiting French troops in Estonia and meeting the Commander of the Estonian Division major general Indrek Sirel.

The  Commander of NATO Multinational Corps North- East Lieutenant- General Jürgen-Joachim von Sandrart visits Estonia today. Lieutenant- General von Sandrart has commanded the Corps for three years and this is his final visit to MNC NE area of responsibility in this capacity.

The Government of the Republic of Estonia decided to declare a defence readiness exercise Okas 24-1 (Quill), with up to 59 members of the Force Protection Company, Coastal Defence Squadron, Estonian Navy, 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.

A Spanish air defence unit, equipped with the NASAMS (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) medium-range air defense system, has arrived to Estonia to contribute to NATO’s efforts to secure the alliance’s eastern flank and protect strategic objects under the command of NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe.