Until the end of April additional Allied units will arrive in Estonia to participate in the defensive Exercise SIIL 2025, which begins in May.
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Press Release, Tallinn, 17 April 2025: [auto-translated] Starting this week until the end of April, additional Allied units will arrive in Estonia to participate in the defensive exercise SIIL [HEDGEHOG] 2025, which begins in May. The Allied units will arrive by air, sea and land transport, practising rapid reinforcement of the NATO battle group here using various methods of deployment operations. The largest additional unit being brought to Estonia is the 4th Brigade of the United Kingdom Armed Forces, which will be seconded by companies from the French Army.
The Movement and Transportation Service of the Defence Support Command, which manages and coordinates all movements of Allied forces on Estonian territory, is responsible for receiving the Allied units arriving in Estonia. The reception of additional units is supported by the military police, the division’s logistics battalion, the air force and the navy, as well as the Northern Land Defence District of the Estonian Defence League.
“The arrival of the Allies in Estonia is an ideal opportunity to practice the entire reception chain, from the operation of ports and airports to the arrival of equipment at the destination,” said Major Toomas Pärnpuu, Commander of the Movement and Transportation Service of the Support Command. “The goal of our unit is to ensure a smooth and safe reception of the Allies on land, at sea and in the air.”
During the deployment operation, which will take place from 14 to 30 April, the armed forces of the United Kingdom and France will bring a large number of their personnel and combat equipment to Estonia, practising the rapid deployment of their forces for the defence of Estonia. The main contingent of troops will be the 4th Brigade of the British Army, which will bring approximately 1,500 fighters to Exercise SIIL 2025. The brigade includes two light infantry battalions using FOXHOUND and MASTIFF armoured vehicles and light cavalry squadron dragoons moving on JACKAL reconnaissance vehicles. In addition, snipers, artillery, anti-tank and machine gun capabilities will provide fire support, and the brigade will be supported by engineer and logistics units.
The French armed forces will bring mainly marine units in addition to the contingent already present here before the start of the SIIL 2025 exercise.
Due to the arrival of additional Allied units, more Allied vehicles and military equipment may be seen on Estonian roads during this period. The Defence Forces ask road users to be attentive and show understanding towards Defence Force columns moving slower than normal traffic.
The Movement and Transport Service is a sub-unit of the Defence Forces Support Command, whose tasks are to organise, escort and secure the domestic transport and movements of both the Estonian Defence Forces and Allied units. In addition, the Movement and Transport Service is responsible for bringing Allied units and their equipment and equipment into Estonia and sending them out of the country. The unit also organises the transport of Estonian Defence Forces mission units, supplies and equipment to and from foreign operations. In addition, the Movement and Transport Service trains specialists based on conscripts who enter the service of the unit and continue reserve service in the same speciality.
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