Military of Estonia
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The Estonian Defence Forces consists of 5120 persons in uniform.
Accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation is Estonia's main security and defence policy priority. Accession to NATO has been included in all coalition agreements of all Estonian governments since the restoration of independence, including the present government. The same objective also is stated in the National Security Concept of the Republic of Estonia, approved by the parliament in March 2001.
The 2002 state budget allocated 2% of gross domestic product for defence expenditures. The United States is among the countries with which Estonia has very intensive cooperation in the defence and security field.
| 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) |
| Contents |
Organisation
The Estonian Defence Forces consist of regular military units, the Kaitsevägi totalling 5120 officers and men, and a voluntary corps, the Defence League (Kaitseliit) with about 8100 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
Estonian Army (Maavägi)
The Estonian Army consists of 9 battalions:
- Kuperjanov Independent Infantry Battalion
- Pärnu Independent Infantry Battalion
- Peace Operations Centre
- Scouts Battalion
- Artillery Group
- Viru Independent Infantry Battalion
- Air Defence Battalion
- Independent Signal Battalion
- Independent Guard Battalion
Estonian Navy (Merevägi)
The Estonian Navyhas (http://www.mil.ee/index_eng.php?s=merevagi) one naval base in Miinisadam and operates one minesweeper division:
- EML Admiral Pitka - offshore patrol frigate, ex-Danish Beskytteren 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
Estonian Air Force (Õhuvägi)
The Air Force has an air base in Ämari and operates two Antonov An-2s and two Mil Mi-2 helicopters. The Border Guard Aviation Group is based at Tallinn Airport and operates two LET 410 UVPs, two Mil Mi-8, and four Robinson 44 helicopters. Air defence batteries are equipped with 100 ZSU-23-2s.
External links
- Estonian Defence Forces (http://www.mil.ee/index_eng.php)
- Estonian Ministry of Defence (http://www.mod.gov.ee/index.php?setlang=eng)
| North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) | 
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| Belgium | Bulgaria | Canada | Czech Republic | Denmark | Estonia | France | Germany | Greece | Hungary | Iceland | Italy | Latvia | Lithuania | Luxembourg | The Netherlands | Norway | Poland | Portugal | Romania | Slovakia | Slovenia | Spain | Turkey | United Kingdom | United States of America | |