Minister of Defence Jüri Luik (Pro Patria) at Wednesday's ceremony conferred the ministry's decorations on 62 individuals for their contributions to the national defence of Estonia.The merits cited as the basis for awarding the Cross of Merit of the Ministry of Defence and other decorations included contributions to the development of bilateral defence cooperation, the establishment of the Cyber Command, the development of national defence infrastructure, the development of international defence cooperation, and the development of a system for the assessment of the health of EDF conscripts.Luik said that the contributions in all domains and by all individuals are important to the development of national defence as a whole."Your work and your contributions are worth cherishing, and it is a real pleasure to serve the Estonian state together with you," Luik was quoted by spokespeople as saying at the ceremony."Our forebears wisely took advantage of the opportunity to establish the … [Read more...] about Outgoing defence chief Gen. Riho Terras bestowed Cross of Merit, 1st Class
Martin herem
Generals: Russia demonstrating its aggressiveness in Kerch Strait
Terras and Herem appeared on ETV's Esimene stuudio talk show on Tuesday evening, where they commented on Russia's stopping and seizing Ukrainian Navy vessels in the Kerch Strait on Sunday.According to Terras, tensions in the area have been raising for a while. The construction of the Crimean Bridge between the Crimean and Taman peninsulas was completed earlier this year, the bridge is already open for road transport, a rail link across the strait is expected to become operational in summer next year.Terras said that the bridge has significantly affected shipping through the Kerch Strait, keeping vessels from approaching Ukrainian ports. "The Ukrainians wanted to see how free they are to move around on their own territory, and the Russians have taken active measures [against them]," Terras said. "Russia has demonstrated that its aggressive behaviour is the norm," he added.The general also pointed out that the region is of great importance to Russia, which its actions starting with the … [Read more...] about Generals: Russia demonstrating its aggressiveness in Kerch Strait
Estonian Defense Forces Chief Proposes Creating Joint Baltic Air Security System
© REUTERS / Ints KalninsNATO Could Trigger Article 5 in Event of Alleged Russian Cyberattack - ReportsThe powers of Terras, who has been Estonian Defense Forces commander since late 2011, are due to expire on December 4. Martin Herem, the incumbent chief of staff of the Headquarters of the Estonian Defense Forces, has been appointed to take up the post. In August, Russian Foreign Ministry said that NATO avoids dialogue with Moscow on the Baltic region military air traffic safety. In particular, the ministry stressed that NATO claims on the alliance's readiness for dialogue "either demonstrate their forgetfulness, or intentionally mislead the public," because Moscow had initiated discussions in the NATO-Russia Council on air security in the Baltic region twice, but received no response. READ MORE: Here's What Baltic Countries Really Fear From Russia (and It's Not Invasion) … [Read more...] about Estonian Defense Forces Chief Proposes Creating Joint Baltic Air Security System
Debris from missile misfiring still not located
Aivo Vahemets, spokesperson from EDF headquarters, told the Baltic News Service on Friday that the search is ongoing but added that there are currently no updates.It had previously been announced that the area where the missile probably fell is a boggy area close to the Endla nature park with no human habitation in the immediate vicinity.A Eurofighter Typhoon in Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force) service, flying on NATO Baltic air policing duty, reportedly fired an air-to-air missile [the Eurofighter Typhoon can carry a wide range of armaments – ed.] in error at 15.44 EEST on Tuesday.The missile was launched in a north-northwesterly direction, it is reported, while the plane was flying over the town of Pangodi at an altitude of around 6,000 m. Pangodi lies around 25 km southwest of Estonia's second city, Tartu.Highly unusual incidentAccording to commander of the Estonian Air Force, Col. Riivo Valge, exactly how the event came to pass is to be the subject of investigation … [Read more...] about Debris from missile misfiring still not located
Rescuers working to extinguish wildfire sparked by launched missile
Rescuers arrived at Jõgeva Municipality at 11:18 EEST on Wednesday to safeguard the operation seeking a missile accidentally fired by a Spanish Eurofighter jet in Tartu County on Tuesday.A bog had caught fire in the search operation area, and rescuers were able to begin extinguishing it that evening. As the fire is deep in the turf, extinguishing work will continue on Thursday, the South Regional Rescue Centre said.Rescuers will also continue searching for components of the missile, together with members of the Estonian Defence Forces (EDF).Spanish Eurofighter accidentally fires missileAt 15:44 EEST on Tuesday, a Spanish Eurofighter serving on the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission accidentally fired an air-to-air AMRAAM type missile in Estonian airspace, six kilometres off the ground.According to Commander of the Estonian Air Force Col. Riivo Valge, the Air Force was notified of the incident within a few minutes, and in the half hour to follow, the circumstances of the incident … [Read more...] about Rescuers working to extinguish wildfire sparked by launched missile