Military of Estonia

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Estonian Defence Forces
Military manpower
Military age	18 years of age
Availability	males age 15-49: 360,440 (2003 est.)
Fit for military service	283,278 (2003 est.)
Reaching military age annually	males: 11,123 (2003 est.)
Military expenditures
Dollar figure	$155 million (FY02)
Percent of GDP	2% (FY02)

The Estonian Defence Forces consists of 5,120 persons in uniform. The 2002 state budget allocated 2% of the gross domestic product for defence expenditures.

The Estonian Defence Forces are a reserve force, and as such, "all physically and mentally healthy male citizens" must undergo compulsory military service for the duration of either 8 or 11 months, during which time the conscripts are taught the basic skills needed to be mobilized into active duty.[1]

1 Organisation
2 Insignia
3 Recent history
4 Equipment
5 See also
6 External links

[edit] Organisation

Estonian soldier

The Estonian Defence Forces consist of regular military units, the Kaitsevägi, totalling 5,120 officers and men, and a voluntary corps, the Defence League (Kaitseliit) with about 10 000 soldiers. The Defence Forces are stationed within four defence districts with headquarters in Tallinn, Rakvere, Tartu, Pärnu.

Estonia cooperates with Latvia and Lithuania in the joint infantry battalion BALTBAT and naval squadron BALTRON which can be deployed for peacekeeping operations.

Army
Navy
Air Force
Defence League
Border Guards

Structure of the Estonian Army

[edit] Estonian Army (Maavägi)

The Estonian Army consists of 9 battalions:

Kuperjanov Single Infantry Battalion

Estonian soldiers in Iraq
Pärnu Single Infantry Battalion
Peace Operations Centre
Scouts Battalion
Artillery Group
Viru Single Infantry Battalion
Air Defence Battalion
Single Signal Battalion
Single Guard Battalion

[edit] Estonian Navy (Merevägi)

The Estonian Navy has one naval base in Miinisadam and operates one minesweeper division:

EML Admiral Pitka - command and support ship, ex-Danish Beskytteren, modified Hvidbjørnen-class
EML Tasuja - naval diving and support ship, ex-Danish Lindormen, Lindormen class
EML Ahti - cutter, ex-Danish Maagen class
EML Sulev - minehunter, ex-German Lindau class
EML Wambola - minehunter, ex-German Lindau class
EML Vaindlo - minesweeper, ex-German Frauenlob class
EML Olev - minesweeper, ex German Frauenlob class
EML Ristna - patrol boat, ex-Finnish Rihtiniemi class
EML Suurop - patrol boat, ex Finnish Rihtiniemi class

[edit] Estonian Air Force (Õhuvägi)

The Estonian Air Force has an air base in Ämari and operates two Antonov An-2s and four Robinson R44 helicopters. The Border Guard Aviation Group is based at Tallinn Airport and operates two Let L-410 UVPs and Mil Mi-8 helicopters. Two L-39 are being leased and are set to perform air defense missions.

Estonia's air defence is maintained by NATO, which rotates detachments of four aircraft from its member states to Lithuania at four-monthly intervals (see Baltic Air Policing). Air defence artillery batteries are equipped with 100 ZU-23-2s. Estonian primary radar system is integrated with Baltic States radar system network BALTNET.

[edit] Insignia

NATO Code	OF-10	OF-9	OF-8	OF-7	OF-6	OF-5	OF-4	OF-3	OF-2	OF-1		OF-D-	Student Officer
Estonia (Edit)	No Equivalent												No Equivalent
Estonia (Edit)	No Equivalent	Kindral	Kindralleitnant	Kindralmajor	Brigaadikindral	Kolonel	Kolonelleitnant	Major	Kapten	Leitnant	Nooremleitnant	Lipnik	No Equivalent

NATO Code	OR-9						OR-8		OR-7		OR-6						OR-5						OR-4		OR-3		OR-2						OR-1
Estonia (Edit)																																	No insignia
Estonia (Edit)	Ülemveebel		Staabiveebel		Vanemveebel		Veebel	Nooremveebel	Vanemseersant		Seersant						Nooremseersant						Kapral										Reamees

[edit] Recent history

In 2004, Estonia joined NATO, which had been one of its foremost priorities since the restoration of independence. The United States is among the countries with which Estonia has very close cooperation in the defence and security fields. Estonia utilizes many weapons produced by Israel Military Industries, including UZI submachineguns, Galil rifles and IMI Negev machine guns. Estonia is a member of the Coalition of the Willing and currently has 35 soldiers stationed in Iraq.