Fact Sheet April 2005 Today Basic Facts on the

Estonia's 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 the development of the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF). The development of the EDF must ensure its interoperability with the armed forces of NATO and EU member states, and ensure its capability to participate in the full range of Alliance missions

As a small state, Estonia develops its defence system with an emphasis on education, technical equipment, knowledge, quality and active international co-operation. The Estonian Defence Forces are staffed with predominantly Western educated officers. The requirement of NATO interoperability is included in all development programmes.

The EDF has successfully performed in international peace support operations. Estonia is determined to enhance its capability to contribute to international peace operations. According to the "Force Structure and Development Plan of the Estonian Defence Forces 2010", the EDF will be able to deploy and sustain a contingent of up to 250 personnel and one mine countermeasures (MCM) vessel in international missions starting from 2008 and the contingent will be increased up to 350 personnel by 2010.

The EDF consist of the Regular Armed Forces, which is divided into three services: Army, Air Force and Navy of which the army is the largest. The voluntary Defence League with its 8 700 members is part of the Estonian Defence Forces.

Defence Minister Mr Jaak Jõerüüt Commander of Estonian Defence Forces Vice Admiral Tarmo Kõuts Chief of Staff Brigadier General Alar Laneman Acting Commander of Land Forces Major Meelis Kiili Commander of Air Force Captain Mart Vendla Commander of Navy Lieutenant Commander Ahti Piirimägi Commander of Defence League (Kaitseliit) Major Benno Leesik

Conscription:

8 or 11 months for male citizens between the ages of 18-27. Alternative conscription for 16 months is available for conscientious objectors. Conscription takes place in the Estonian Defence Forces. The 8-month conscription is prevalent in most cases; 11-month conscriptions are for sergeants and reserve officer candidate trainees as well as for conscripts who get special training in the Navy or in IT and communications.

Defence expenditures, percentage (%) of GDP 2000-2005

1,79 1,58 1,59 1,64 1,42 1,4

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Press and Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Islandi väljak 1, , 15049, Estonia. Tel. +372 631 7600, Fax +372 631 7617, E-mail: [email protected]. www.vm.ee

Fact Sheet April 2005

Total expenditures of the Estonian Peace Support Centre (including Scoutsbat) 2000-2005 (million EEK)

185 191

145

99 89 89

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005

Main types of weapons in Estonian Defence Forces:

5.56 mm automatic rifles Galil7.62 mm automatic rifles AK-4 7.62 mm sniper rifles Galil 7.62 mm rifles M14 9 mm SMG Mini-Uzi and M-45 9 mm pistols PM 5.56 mm LMG Negev 7.62 mm MG MG3 and Ksp-58 12.7 mm Heavy MG M2 AT grenade launchers M-69, AT-4, B-300 and Carl Gustav AT missile systems MAPATS, MILAN 23 mm anti-aircraft guns 81 mm and 120 mm mortars 90 mm and 106 mm recoilless guns 105 mm H61-37 and 155 mm FH-70 A1 field howitzers 40 mm and 76 mm naval guns APC-s BTR-80

The development goals for the Estonian Defence Forces in 2005:

The Estonian government and defence forces leadership have foreseen and composed extensive development programmes. The development goals for the Estonian Defence Forces in 2005 are as follows:

• to increase contribution to international military operations; • to achieve full operational capability of the infantry battalion () by the end of 2005; • to participate in NATO Response Force (NRF) with mine-countermeasures staff and support ship; • to continue the integration of the national air surveillance system into NATO Integrated Extended Air Defence System (NATINEADS); • to achieve full operational capability of the passive air surveillance system; • to provide a much wider range of Host Nation Support responsibilities for the allies contributing to Air Policing over the Baltic States; • to maintain two Mine-Counter Measures Vessels at required readiness for participation in NATO led operations; • to continue the development of a Naval Diving Group; • to continue the modernisation of Naval infrastructure, including the renovation of the Miinisadam (harbour); • to develop procedures for participation in international crisis management; • to further regulate legislation concerning information security;

Further sources for additional information:

Estonia and NATO http://www.vm.ee/nato

Ministry of Defence http://www.mod.gov.ee

Estonian Defence Forces http://www.mil.ee

The Defence League http://www.kaitseliit.ee