Estonia to boost mobility of ground forces

Photo: Madalmaade Kuningriigi kaitsevägi

Over the next four years, Estonian state intends to make close to half of its ground forces capable of one-off foreign mission participation, while raising Defence League and its special organisations membership from current 23,000 to 27,000 by adding a thousand a year.

Reading in the governmental draft paper for 2015–2018 state budget strategy: while in 2013 it was a third of ground forces that were able to participate in single foreign missions, by 2018 the percentage is to be 47.

According to government’s plan, sustainable mobility is to apply for a tenth of ground forces, in order to ensure a fair input into NATO collective defence.

According to the development plan of initial independent defence capability, collective defence input and civilian authorities assistance, it is intended in the years ahead to continue preparing and compiling sustainable highly alert reserve units which will be participating in foreign missions. Pre-warning and control of international air-space will be guaranteed, as well as readiness to initiate and execute collective defence operations while ensuring support by host country to allied forces, says the document. 

It is also planned to enhance air and naval surveillance capabilities.