The Estonian Defence Forces consists of 5120 persons in uniform.

In 2004, Estonia joined the NATO, which has been one of its priorities since the restoration of independence. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The NATO flag NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance, Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for defence collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on April 4...

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. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a calculation method in national accounting (see Measures of national income and output) is defined as the total value of final goods and services produced within a countrys borders in a year, regardless of ownership. ...

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. County Harju County Mayor Tõnis Palts Area 159. ... County Lääne-Viru County Mayor Andres Jaadla Area 10. ... County Tartu County Mayor Laine Jänes Area 38. ... The city of Pärnu is located within the county of 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 one naval base in Miinisadam and operates one minesweeper division: USS Pivot (AM 276) World War II United States Admirable Class Minesweeper shown in the Gulf of Mexico on sea trials 12 July 1944 Image:Hameln Class. ... A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of around ten to fifteen thousand soldiers. ...

• 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 L-410 UVPs, two Mil Mi-8, and four Robinson R44 helicopters. Air defence batteries are equipped with 100 ZU-23-2s. NATO F-16 jets based in Lithuania are also involved in the patrolling and protection of Estonian air space. The Antonov An-2 (Russian nickname: кукуру́зник (kukuruznik); NATO code name Colt) is an extremely durable, light, single-engine biplane which first flew in 1947. ... The Mil Mi-2 (NATO reporting name is Hoplite) was a small, lightly armored transport helicopter that could also provide close air support when armed with 57 mm rockets and a 23 mm cannon. ... Tallinn Airport, also Ãœlemiste Airport (IATA airport code: TLL, ICAO airport code: EETN), is approximately 4 kilometers from the city center of Tallinn, Estonia. ... The L-410 Turbolet is a high-wing twin-turboprop unpressurised 19-passenger aircraft manufactured by Let Kunovice in Kunovice in the current Czech Republic. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Mil Mi-17. ... Robinson R44 Helicopter The Robinson Helicopter Company of Torrance, California manufactures more civil helicopters than any other company in the world. ... 1989 Robinson R44 The Robinson R44 is a small light 4 seat helicopter produced by the Robinson Helicopter Company. ... A ZU-23-2 towed anti-aircraft gun. ... The NATO flag NATO 2002 Summit in Prague The North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), sometimes called North Atlantic Alliance, Atlantic Alliance or the Western Alliance, is an international organisation for defence collaboration established in 1949, in support of the North Atlantic Treaty signed in Washington, D.C., on April 4... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in the United States and used by dozens of countries all over the world. ...

External links

• Estonian Defence Forces
• Estonian Ministry of Defence

North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO)
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