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| Estonian Defence Forces Eesti Kaitsevägi |
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|---|---|
 Estonian Defence Forces emblem and flag |
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| Service branches |  Estonian Army |
| Headquarters | Tallinn |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Kindralleitnant Ants Laaneots |
| Defence Minister | Jaak Aaviksoo |
| General Staff | Kolonel Neeme Väli |
| Military age | 17 (voluntary) 18 (compulsory) |
| Conscription | 8 or 11 months |
| Available for military service |
340,000 (2008 est.), age 15–49 |
| Fit for military service |
275,000 (2008 est.), age 15–49 |
| Reaching military age annually |
11,500 (2008 est.) |
| Active personnel | Military: 5,600 Paramilitary: 20,000 |
| Reserve personnel | 46,000 |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | € 315 million (FY08)1 |
| Percent of GDP | 1.8% (2008 est.)2 |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers |  AS E-ARSENAL
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| Foreign suppliers |  Denmark  France |
| Related articles | |
| History | 1918-20 Estonian War of Independence 1944-78 Estonian Guerilla War |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Estonia |
The Estonian Defence Forces (Estonian: Eesti Kaitsevägi 
listen (help·info) is the name of the unified armed forces of the Republic of Estonia. The Estonian military is a defence force consisting of an Maavägi (Army), Merevägi (Navy), Õhuvägi (Air Force) and a paramilitary organization Kaitseliit (Defence League). The national defence policy aims to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state, the integrity of its land area, territorial waters and airspace and its constitutional order. Its main goals remain the development and maintenance of a credible capability to defend the nation's vital interests and development of the Defence Forces in a way that ensures their interoperability with the armed forces of NATO and European Union member states and their capability to participate in the full range of Alliance missions.3
In April 1917 the mobilization department of the Russian General Staff issued an order to concentrate Estonian military personnel in their homeland. The first ethnic Estonian military unit was formed on the 20 May 1917 when the Russian Minister of War gave his official permission to form the 1st Estonian Regiment. Colonel Aleksander Tõnisson was appointed to command the unit which comprised 32 officers and 3,372 soldiers. The formation of the 1st Regiment was transferred to Virumaa to Rakvere where the unit achieved its maximum numbers of 118 officers and 10,151 soldiers. Throughout its existence 216 officers and 11,538 soldiers served in the regiment. The regiment was the base for the creation of national soldiers, officers, military units and eventually the national armed forces.
After Estonia had declared independence on 24 February 1918, the armed forces of Estonia were established on 16 November 1918, (shortly after the end of the First World War), in order to protect the country.
Contents |
History
After the German Revolution, between 11 and 14 November 1918, ending the German occupation in Estonia, the representatives of Germany formally handed over political power to the Government of Estonia. A new military invasion by the Bolshevist Russia followed a few days later, marking the beginning of the Estonian War of Independence. The small, poorly armed Estonian military, also known as the (Estonian: Rahvavägi) (Peoples Force), was initially pushed back by the Red Army into the vicinity of the capital city of Estonia - Tallinn. A mere 34 kilometers separated Tallinn and the front line. Partly due to the timely arrival of a shipment of arms brought by a British naval squadron the Bolsheviks were stopped.
In January 1919, the Estonian armed forces launched a counteroffensive, the May Offensive, under Commander-in-Chief Johan Laidoner. The Ground Forces were supported by the Royal Navy as well as Finnish, Swedish and Danish volunteers. By the end of February 1919, the Red Army had been expelled from all of the territory of Estonia. On 2 February 1920, the Peace Treaty of Tartu was signed by the Republic of Estonia and Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. After winning the Estonian Liberation War against Soviet Russia and German Freikorps volunteers, Estonia maintained its independence for twenty-two years.
The fate of the Republic of Estonia before the World War II was decided by the German-Soviet Nonaggression Pact of August 1939 after Stalin gained Hitler's agreement to divide Eastern Europe into "spheres of special interest" according to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and its Secret Additional Protocol.45 The Estonian government was forced to give their assent to an agreement which allowed the USSR to establish military bases and station 25,000 troops on Estonian soil for "mutual defence".6 On 12 June 1940, the order for a total military blockade on Estonia was given to the Soviet Baltic Fleet.78 Given the overwhelming Soviet force, in order to avoid bloodshed and open war, on 17 June 1940 the Estonian government decided not to resist.9 The military occupation of Estonia was complete by 21 June 1940.1011 The armed forces of Estonia were disarmed in July 1940 by the Red Army according to the Soviet orders.12 Only the Estonian Single Signal Battalion stationed in Tallinn at Raua Street continued to resist. As the Red Army brought in additional reinforcements supported by six armoured fighting vehicles, the battle lasted several hours until sundown. There was one dead, several wounded on the Estonian side and about 10 killed and more wounded on the Soviet side. The military resistance was ended with negotiations and the Signal Battalion surrendered and was disarmed.13
The Eesti Kaitsevägi was restored on 3 September 1991 by the Supreme Council of the Republic of Estonia. Since 1991, the armed forces of Estonia have re-opened and restored more than 30 old and new units and several army branches.
Structure
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The average size of the Estonian Defence Forces in peacetime is about 5,600 of whom about 2,200 are conscripts. The Defence League has more than 10,000 members. The planned size of the operational (wartime) structure at the moment is 16,000 personnel. 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.
National defence policy
Its main goals remain the development and maintenance of a credible capability to defend the nation's vital interests and development of the EDF in a way that ensures their interoperability with the armed forces of NATO and EU member states and their capability to participate in the full range of Alliance missions.
In peacetime the main tasks of EDF are to monitor and maintain control over territorial borders and airspace, maintain combat readiness, train conscripts and develop reserve units, participate in NATO and UN-led international missions, and provide assistance to civilian authorities in case of national emergency.
In crises the main tasks of EDF are to increase the readiness levels of units as required, prepare for transition to wartime structure and begin mobilization as ordered, integrate units from other ministries, and prepare for assistance from and reception of friendly forces.
In wartime the main tasks of EDF are to defend the territorial integrity of the state, to facilitate the arrival and deployment of forces from other countries and co-operate with them, to maintain control over national airspace and facilitate the air defence of strategic assets in co-operation with forces from other countries.
Leadership of the national defence
The national defence of Estonia is conducted on the principles of civilian control inherently bound with the democratic organisation of the state. Democratically elected and appointed executive institutions make decisions on the use of the Defence Forces and determine the respective objectives, allocate the necessary resources and monitor the attainment of the objectives.
The implementation of the principles of civilian control is guaranteed by defence-related rights, obligations and responsibilities legislatively laid upon the Parliament, the President of the Republic and the Government of the Republic.
The highest leader of the national defence is the President of the Republic advised in national defence matters by the National Defence Council comprising of the Chairman of the Parliament, the Prime Minister, the Chief of the Defence Forces (the Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces in wartime), the Defence Minister, the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Chairman of the Parliamentary National Defence Committee.
Executive power in the leadership of the national defence is executed by the Government of the Republic.
Organization
The Estonian Defence Forces consist of regular military units totaling 5,600 officers and men, and a voluntary corps, the Estonian Defence League with about 10,000 soldiers. The Defence Forces are stationed within four defence districts with headquarters in Tallinn, Rakvere, Tartu, Pärnu.
Ground Force
The Estonian Army is the main arm of the Defence Forces. The Army development priorities are the capability to participate in missions outside the national territory and perform operations protecting the territory of Estonia in co-operation with Allied forces.
The operational structure of the Estonian Army consists of an infantry brigade and a homeland security organization. Deployable infantry battalion tactical groups and deployable Combat Support and Combat Service Support units will be developed in accordance with NATO Force Proposal requirements. The infantry brigade will act as a training and support formation for deployable Army units. Homeland security units will have the capability to carry out territorial military tasks or support civil authorities when required.
Naval Force
The Navy is responsible for protecting the territorial waters of the Republic of Estonia. In case of a crisis situation the Navy must be ready to defend sea approaches, harbour areas, sea lines of communication and to co-operate with coalition units.
The top priority for the Navy is the development of its minesweeping and minehunting capability that is also one of the Navy's peacetime responsibilities: during World War I and II more than 80 000 naval mines were laid in the Baltic Sea. Beginning in 1995 a number of mine clearance operations have been carried out in Estonian waters in close co-operation with other navies of the Baltic Sea region in order to find and dispose ordnance and contribute to safe seagoing.
Since that time Estonian Navy ships have participated in most of the major international exercises and operations carried out in the Baltic Sea.
Even though it was not until 1994 when the Navy was re-established and despite of the fact that it incorporates one of the smallest fleets in the world, the young crews of the Navy ships have demonstrated excellent interoperability during international exercises and have proved to be equal partners with other navies.
Most of the Estonian Navy officers have been trained in European or US naval academies. In 2003 Estonian Navy established its own Centre of Naval Education and Training (CNET) to train petty officers.
Each Baltic state shares its limited training resources with the others, for instance Estonia provides communications training in Baltic Naval Communications School in Tallinn and Latvia hosts common Baltic Naval Diving Training Centre in Liepaja.
Air Force
The Õhuvägi is the main arm of the Estonian aviation forces. The average size of the military formation in peacetime is about 210 men. The Õhuvägi has an important role in enhancing flight safety in Estonian airspace. One of the main goals of the Õhuvägi is to build up an air surveillance system, which will be the cornerstone of the air traffic safety and airspace control. The second priority is the development of Host Nation Support capabilities for air operations and the implementation of a crucial peacetime Air Defence capability - Air Policing. One important milestone will be the development of an air surveillance system to a level which allows close cooperation with the NATO air defence system.
Since 1994, the Õhuvägi has been rebuilding the destroyed military infrastructure left behind by the Russian Army. Most of the funds have been directed to the Ämari military airfield which will be completed around 2010.14 The objective of developing Ämari Air Base is to cooperate with NATO and partner nations air forces and being able to supply standardized airfield and aircraft services necessary for Host Nation Support. Due to the lack of modern and developed military aviation infrastructure, the Air Force development has been very slow.
Training
During their 8-month training the conscripts acquire a basic military education and start with trainings of co-operation in smaller units (squad, platoon, company). After the compulsory military service reservists are called up for trainings for reserve in every five years. The trainings for reserve under staff command involve reinforcement of skills already acquired and practice of action of reserve companies and battalions in situations resembling those of real battle.
Military education
Teaching in the Estonian National Defence College is conducted in the broad-based applied higher education programme. Some of the teaching is carried out by the teaching staff of the University of Tartu, Tallinn Technical University and other institutions of higher education in Estonia. Graduates of the ENDC may perform different duties within the Estonian Defence Forces, Defence League, as well as Border Guard and Rescue Board sub-units. Upon completion of the basic and designated studies, the cadets can specialise in the following military disciplines: infantry, logistics, signals, engineer, artillery, air defence and border guard. The applied higher education diploma is issued after the completion of speciality practice in sub-units of the Estonian Defence Forces and defence of the final paper.
Modernization
e-Military
The Military of Estonia is introducing a new 21st century based cyber warfare and defence formation in order to protect the vital infrastructure and e-infrastructure of Estonia. Currently the leading organization in the Estonian cyber defence is the CERT (the Computer Emergency Response Team of Estonia), established in 2006, as an organisation responsible for the management of security incidents in .ee computer networks. Its task is to assist Estonian internet users in the implementation of preventive measures in order to reduce possible damage from security incidents and to help them in responding to security threats. The unit deals with security incidents that occur in Estonian networks, are started there, or have been notified of by citizens or institutions either in Estonia or abroad.15
On 25 June 2007, Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves met with the president of USA, George W. Bush.16 Among the topics discussed were the attacks on Estonian e-infrastructure.17 The attacks triggered a number of military organisations around the world to reconsider the importance of network security to modern military doctrine. On 14 June 2007, defence ministers of NATO members held a meeting in Brussels, issuing a joint communiqué promising immediate action. First public results are estimated to arrive by autumn 2007.18
As to the placement of a newly planned NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence (CCD COE), Bush proclaimed the policy of USA as supporting Estonia as this centre's location.19 In the aftermath of the Cyberattacks on Estonia 2007, plans to combine network defence with Estonian military doctrine, and related NATO plans to create a Cybernetic Defence Centre in Estonia, have been nicknamed the "Tiger's Defence" (Estonian: Tiigrikaitse), in reference to Tiigrihüpe.20
International relations
The Washington Treaty was ratified by the Riigikogu on 10 March 2004. Since 29 March 2004, Estonia has been a full member of the NATO; it 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. Currently Estonia takes seriously participation in the NATO Response Force and contributes in NTM-I (NATO Training Mission - Iraq). At the present Estonia has 35 soldiers fighting alongside American Forces in the Iraq War and 140 soldiers, or about 3% of its total active military force, fighting alongside British Forces in the ISAF. In both cases, the units are regularly rotated. Estonia also provides peacekeepers for international missions in both Bosnia and Kosovo within the framework of the KFOR and contributes to EU battlegroups and NATO Response Force rotations. The Estonian military employs STANAG (NATO interoperable) weapons and equipment acquired from Finland, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, Great Britain, the United States and Israel.
See also
Notes and references
- ^ (Estonian) http://mod.gov.ee/?op=body&id=479 Kaitseministeeriumi 2008. aasta eelarve
http://mod.gov.ee/?op=body&id=478 2008 Budget, Estonian Ministry of Defence. - ^ (Estonian) http://mod.gov.ee/?op=body&id=6 Kaitsekulutused 2008. aastal
- ^ http://mil.ee/index_eng.php Estonian National Defence Policy
- ^ The World Book Encyclopedia ISBN 0716601036
- ^ O'Connor, Kevin. "The History of the Baltic States". ISBN 0313323550
- ^ Smith, David J. "The Baltic States: Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania", Page 24, ISBN 0415285801
- ^ (Finnish) Pavel Petrov at Finnish Defence Forces home page
- ^ (Russian) Documents published from the State Archive of the Russian Navydead link
- ^ Smith, Page 19.
- ^ Smith, Page 27.
- ^ Five Years of Dates, Time magazine, 24 June 1940
- ^ (Estonian) http://www.mil.ee/?menu=kaitsevagi&sisu=kvaja1 History of the Estonian Defence Forces
- ^ (Estonian) 51 years from the Raua Street Battle at Estonian Defence Forces web site
- ^ (Estonian) http://mod.gov.ee/?op=body&id=401 NATO investeeringud
- ^ http://www.ria.ee/?id=28201 About CERT Estonia
- ^ President Bush to welcome President Toomas Ilves of Estonia, White House press release, 4 May 2007
- ^ Bush, Ilves eye tougher tack on cybercrime, Yahoo/Agence France-Presse (AFP), 25 June 2007
- ^ (Estonian) NATO andis rohelise tule Eesti küberkaitse kavale, Eesti Päevaleht, 15 June 2007
- ^ (Estonian) USA toetab Eesti küberkaitsekeskust, Eesti Päevaleht, 28 June 2007
- ^ (Estonian) President Ilves kohtus Ameerika Ühendriikide riigipeaga, Office of the President of Estonia, 25 June 2007
External links
- Chronology of the Estonian Defence Forces, 1917-1940 and 1991-now, www.mil.ee
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- This page was last modified on 22 December 2008, at 16:28.
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