The phase of battle training has begun in the Exercise Hedgehog 2025 on Sunday, with over 5500 soldiers and nearly 3000 units of equipment participating in the maneuvers taking place in Northeast Estonia, mainly at the Central Training Area of the Estonian Defence Forces.
The design of the battle phase scenario was based on the tasks set for the participants in the Estonian defence plan and took into account the most important training objectives.
“There are many units, the Central Training Area has quite limited space for them, but I am confident that what is happening there in the coming days will give every participant – from soldiers to commanders – the opportunity to test themselves and consolidate the necessary skills. I wish everyone a calm mind, proactivity in action and the ability to adapt to changes,” said Colonel Tarmo Kundla, the chief organizer of the battle phase in the field training exercise at the Central Training Area, Commander of the 1st Infantry Brigade.
Under the leadership of the 1st Infantry Brigade, the Kalev Infantry Battalion, Anti-tank Company, Headquarters and Signal Company, Air Defence Battalion, Engineer Battalion, Combat Service Support Battalion, Division’s Artillery Battalion and Recce Company, as well as the NATO Multinational Battlegroup in Estonia, will participate in the battle phase of the field training exercise.
During the exercise, the 1st Infantry Brigade will be offered challenges in combat by the Estonian Defence League, whose units operating in North-East Estonia are led by Lieutenant Colonel Jaanus Ainsalu, Commander of the Regional Command Northeast. “Our main striking force is formed by dedicated volunteers of the Defence League and reservists, supported by allied units from Denmark, Lithuania, the United States and France,” said Lieutenant Colonel Ainsalu.
Today, the Scouts Battalion will also join the training battles at the Central Training Area together with a Finnish infantry company.
In total, over 5500 soldiers and almost 3000 units of equipment will participate in the training battles taking place in North-Eastern Estonia, including over 10 Challenger 2 tanks, 50 infantry fighting vehicles, almost 300 armoured personnel carriers and a number of different logistics vehicles.
Exercise Hedgehog 25 is the Estonian Defense Forces’ largest training event this year, focused on planning and executing military operations and enhancing interoperability between Estonian and allied units. Participants include active-duty personnel, conscripts, reservists, Defense League members, and allied soldiers. In total, over 16 000 combatants is expected to take part of the exercise.
