Next week marks the commencement of the combat phase of exercise Spring Storm, during which defending Estonia will be practiced using land, sea, and air force units in Western and Southern Estonia.
“The exercise has started off very well. We have now been joined by over 12,000 fighters. It is crucial that during the exercise, different branches of the military collaborate in solving tactical tasks,” said Lieutenant Colonel Feliks Roodvee, the chief planner of Spring Storm. “This year’s Spring Storm is special, because it includes significantly more participating countries — nearly half of the NATO countries are involved.”
In the second week of Spring Storm, the defence of Estonia will be practiced through combat exercises in Western and Southern Estonia. Additionally, next week will enhance cooperation with the defence forces, the Estonian Defence League, and with the Rescue Board through evacuating civilians, notifying about simulated air threats, and responding to chemical hazards.
Four brigade-sized units are taking part in Spring Storm, comprising about 300 armoured units, including tanks, combat vehicles, and armoured personnel carriers. Attack and fighter aircraft, transport planes, helicopters, drones, multiple rocket launchers like MLRS and HIMARS, as well as self-propelled artillery batteries, are also involved in the exercises.
Reservists from the Estonian Defence League’s Territorial Defence Units, incorporated during last year’s exercise Parseltongue, will practice dealing with hybrid threats, conducting force protection, and combat against manoeuvring adversaries this year at Spring Storm. In cooperation with allies, parachute, helicopter, and naval assaults are being rehearsed and repelled on Estonian soil.
Spring Storm involves units from the army, air force, and navy. Participants include the Division Headquarters, 1st and 2nd Infantry Brigades, Support Command, Cyber Command, also other units of the defence forces and Estonian Defence League. The exercise includes NATO Battlegroups serving in Estonia and military personnel from allied and partner countries who have arrived for the exercise. In total, approximately 14,000 fighters are participating in the exercise.
Significant military traffic is expected on the roads in the exercise areas, and live combat activities will be conducted. The Estonian Defence Forces request special vigilance from travellers in the area during this time and advise accounting for additional travel time.
Spring Storm is the largest annual exercise of the Estonian Defence Forces, during which military operations planning and execution are practiced, as well as enhanced cooperation between Estonian and allied units. The exercise involves active-duty military personnel, conscripts, reservists, members of the Defence League, and participants from allied nations.
Spring Storm 2024 is part of the NATO exercise series Steadfast Defender 2024, representing a significant component of this extensive NATO exercise. Steadfast Defender 2024 is the largest NATO exercise in decades, with nearly 90,000 participants from all 32 member states participating over a six-month period from January to July 2024. The broader framework for the exercise has been set by confirmed NATO regional defence plans.
