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Estonian Air Force

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Estonian Air Force
Õhuvägi
Emblem of the Estonian Air Force
Active1919–1940
1991–present
Country Estonia
TypeAir force
RoleAerial warfare
Size1,570 personnel
Part ofEstonian Defence Forces
Garrison/HQÄmari Air Base, Tallinn
Motto(s)Pro patria ad astra! (For the Fatherland to the Stars!)
MarchLennuväepoiste laul
Engagements
DecorationsEstonian Air Force Service Cross
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier General Toomas Susi[1]
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash

The Estonian Air Force (Estonian: Õhuvägi, [ˈɤhuvæki] ⓘ) is the aviation branch of the Estonian Defence Forces. The air force traces its history to 1918, and was re-established in its current form in 1991.

As of 2016, the Estonian Air Force has a strength of 1,568 personnel. It operates unarmed aircraft and several radar systems. Its main tasks are to provide surveillance of Estonian air space and support the country's ground forces. In addition, the air force hosts units from other NATO countries at its single operational air base.

History

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1918–1940

[edit]
Estonian B.E.2 in the Estonian War of Liberation

The roots of the current organization go back to the Russian revolution of February 1917, after which the Estonian state obtained a degree of autonomy within Russia, which included the establishment of national armed forces. Thus many Estonians in the Russian Army returned home to take up arms for their homeland. The Estonian Declaration of Independence in early 1918 was not recognized by Germany, which invaded and occupied the country during 1918. The Estonian armed forces were disbanded.

After the armistice on 11 November 1918, the Estonian Provisional Government immediately set about establishing a military aviation unit. On 21 November 1918 Voldemar Victor Riiberg, the Commander of the Engineering Battalion, assigned August Roos to organize a flight unit. The Aviation Company of the Engineer Battalion began to establish air bases near Tallinn for seaplanes and land planes, but it was not until January 1919 that the first operational aircraft was acquired – a captured Soviet Farman HF.30.

In the meantime, on 22 November 1918, the Soviet Red Army had attacked Estonia and soon occupied most of the country. The fledgling Estonian Army, with foreign assistance, managed to counter-attack in early January 1919 and went on to liberate the country by late February. It subsequently moved on to liberate Latvia. Aviation Company aircraft flew a limited number of missions in support of the army. Following the February 1920 peace treaty with the Soviet Russia, the Estonian Army was demobilized, but the Aviation Company was retained. With the delivery of more aircraft, it was reorganized as an Aviation Regiment (Estonian: Lennuväe rügement), comprising a landplane squadron, seaplane squadron, flying school and workshops. More bases and seaplane stations were built.

Some Aviation Regiment pilots were involved in a pro-Soviet coup attempt on 1 December 1924, but this was crushed within hours. From 1925 the First World War era aircraft were gradually replaced by more modern types. During 1928 the Aviation Regiment came under the control of an Air Defence (Õhukaitse) organization which included the Anti-Aircraft Artillery.

In 1939 the Estonian Air force consisted of about 80 active airplanes: Bristol Bulldog, Hawker Hart and Potez 25 biplanes from the 1920s, but also the more modern Avro Anson multipurpose aircraft, in three groups stationed at Rakvere, Tartu, and Tallinn. The Navy also maintained two multipurpose aircraft wings.[2]

Plans to acquire Spitfires and Lysanders from Britain were thwarted when the outbreak of World War II in 1939 forced Britain to cancel all export orders. After the defeat of Poland, Estonia was forced to accept a Mutual Assistance Pact with the Soviet Union, signed on 28 September 1939. This allowed the Soviets to establish military bases in Estonia, which were later used in the Winter War against Finland. On 17 June 1940 the three Baltic States were invaded by Soviet forces. During the June 1940 invasion the Air Defence took no action and subsequently aircraft remained locked in their hangars. The air force became the Aircraft Squadron of the 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps of the Red Army in the summer of 1940.

1991–present

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An Estonian Air Force R44

The Estonian Air Force was re-established on 16 December 1991 after the restoration of independence of the Republic of Estonia in 1991.[3] The Air Force was slow to reform because the Soviets had damaged or destroyed most of their infrastructure before leaving.[citation needed]

The Air Force Command and Control Headquarters was formed in Tallinn on 13 April 1994.[4] In February 1993 the German government donated two Let L-410UVPs transport aircraft. In October 1994 three Mi-2 helicopters were delivered, followed by four Mi-8s in November 1995. Initially tasked with ground-based, air surveillance and air defence using only old Soviet radars and AAA equipment, on 15 May 1997 the Air Force moved into the former Soviet Su-24 base at Ämari, south of Tallinn. In 1997–98 two of the Mi-8s were upgraded.

The Estonian Air Force has been rebuilding the military infrastructure left by the Soviet military. Most of the funds have been directed to the Ämari military airfield which was completed in 2011.[5] The objective of developing Ämari Air Base is to cooperate with NATO and partner nations' air forces, and being able to supply standardized airfield and aircraft services necessary for Host Nation Support. Due to the lack of modern and developed military aviation infrastructure, the Air Force's development has been very slow.

Ämari Airbase was renovated in 2024 at a cost of €18.5 million, €12 million of which was contribuited by Luxembourg.[6] During the renovations, the Baltic Air Policing mission was temporarily stationed at Lielvārde in Latvia.[7]

Organization

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One of the main goals of the Air Force is to build up an air surveillance system, which will be the cornerstone of the air traffic safety and airspace control. The second priority is the development of the Host Nation Support capabilities for air operations with further implementation of crucial peacetime Air Defence capability – Baltic Air Policing. One important milestone will be the development of the air surveillance system to the level, which allows close cooperation with the NATO air defence system. The purpose of Ämari Air Base is to work together with NATO and partner nations air forces and provide the standardized airfield and aircraft services to provide the Host Nation Services.

Structure and units

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class=notpageimage|
Estonian Air Force locations
Radar station with GM 403
Radar station with AN/TPS-77(V)
  • Estonian Air Force Headquarters

The Estonian Air Force Headquarters is highest command of the Estonian Air Forces and represents the military concept-developing, command and executive structure providing Air Forces peacetime, crisis and wartime leadership in order to reach, maintain and increase, as required, the operational level of the military subordinated structures so that to be able to operate under authorized commands responsible for military operations planning and conduct.[8]

The Air Surveillance Wing (ASW) is located at Ämari Air Base and responsible for operating and maintaining the systems to monitor all air movements in Estonian air space. Its Air Operations Control Centre reports to the Baltic Air Surveillance Network's Regional Airspace Surveillance Coordination Centre (RASCC) in Karmėlava, Lithuania, which in turn reports to CAOC Uedem of NATO's Integrated Air and Missile Defence System.[4]

Although the Estonian Air Force inherited a large number of former Soviet Air Force airfields in 1991 during the restoration of independence, most of them were disbanded within the early 90s due to non-existing need for such airfields. The Estonian Air Force has one active main air base in Ämari and occasionally uses a civilian airfield in Tallinn. The base houses the Base Operation Centre, Base Defence Operations Centre, a flight group, the Airfield Operations Group, Air Force Support Group and the Air Force Training Centre.

Current organization

[edit]

Ranks and insignia

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Main article: Estonian military ranks and insignia
NATO code OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1
 Estonian Air Force[9]
Kindral Kindralleitnant Kindralmajor Brigaadikindral Kolonel Kolonelleitnant Major Kapten Leitnant Nooremleitnant Lipnik
Estonian:
Lühend 		kin kin-ltn kin-mjr brig-kin kol kol-ltn mjr kpt ltn n-ltn lpn
English:
Ranks 		General Lieutenant General Major General Brigadier General Colonel Lieutenant Colonel Major Captain First Lieutenant Second Lieutenant Ensign
NATO code OR-9 OR-8 OR-7 OR-6 OR-5 OR-4 OR-3 OR-2 OR-1
 Estonian Air Force[9]
Ülemveebel Staabiveebel Vanemveebel Veebel Nooremveebel Vanemseersant Seersant Nooremseersant Kapral Reamees
Estonian:
Lühend 		ü-vbl st-vbl v-vbl vbl n-vbl v-srs srs n-srs kpr rms
English:
Ranks 		Chief Master Sergeant of Air Force Chief Master Sergeant Senior Master Sergeant Master Sergeant Technical Sergeant Staff Sergeant Sergeant Sergeant Senior Airman Airman

Equipment

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Main article: List of historic Estonian Air Force aircraft

The modern Estonian Air Force has been rebuilding devastated military infrastructure since 1994 when the last Russian Ground Forces units left Estonia. Most of the funds were directed to the Ämari military airfield which was completed in 2011. Due to the lack of modern and developed military aviation infrastructure the Estonian Air Force development has been very slow. All aircraft are unarmed. In addition to upgrading and modernizing Ämari military airfield, the Estonian Air Force has embarked on an extensive program to upgrade and modernize airspace surveillance, making a number of significant purchases in recent years. The aim is to fully integrate with the NATO Integrated Air Defense System providing airspace surveillance with full national radar coverage and real-time reporting for the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission.

Aircraft

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An Estonian Aero L-39C Albatros in flight
An Estonian PZL M28 Skytruck
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Transport
M28 Skytruck Poland Transport 2[10] Replaced two Antonov An-2s[11]
Trainer aircraft
Robinson R44 United States Rotorcraft trainer 3[10]
Aero L-39 Czechoslovakia Jet trainer 2[12][10]

Note : Three C-17 Globemaster III's are available through the Heavy Airlift Wing based in Hungary.[13]

Radar

[edit]
Name Origin Type In service Notes
VERA-E[14][15] Czech Republic Passive radar 1 Purchased in 2004.[15]
Ground Master 403 France Active electronically scanned array 2[14][15] Two radars purchased in 2009.[14][15] Mounted on Sisu E13TP vehicle.[16]
Ground Master 400a France Active electronically scanned array 2 on order Two ordered in 2023.[17]
AN/TPS-77 United States Passive electronically scanned array 1[14][15] Bought 2003.[15] Modernized in 2014.[18]
GCA-2020 United States Precision approach radar 1 Based at Ämari Air Base.[18]

In addition to these radars, the 16th Air Defence Battalion of the Estonian Land Forces has 4 or 5 Giraffe AMB radars (these radars, even though being air surveilance radars, are under Land Forces', not Air Forces', inventory).

Air Force Commanders since 1994

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Nr Start End Name
1
07.02.1994
01.01.1996
 Colonel Vello Loemaa
Acting
01.01.1996
17.02.1997
 Colonel Teo Krüüner
Acting
17.02.1997
20.02.1998
 Colonel Vello Loemaa
Acting
20.02.1998
21.05.1998
 Colonel Teo Krüüner
2
21.05.1998
25.08.1999
 Colonel Teo Krüüner
Acting
25.08.1999
05.02.2000
 Colonel Valeri Saar
2
05.02.2000
02.07.2004
 Major General Teo Krüüner
Acting
24.07.2004
02.05.2005
 Captain Mart Vendla
Acting
03.05.2005
20.08.2006
 Colonel Valeri Saar
Acting
21.08.2006
12.03.2007
 Major Rauno Sirk
3
13.03.2007
14.08.2012
 Brigadier General Valeri Saar
4
15.08.2012
20.07.2018
 Colonel Jaak Tarien
5
20.07.2018
19.07.2019
 Colonel Riivo Valge[19]
6
19.07.2019
20.07.2022
 Brigadier General Rauno Sirk
7
20.07.2022
 Present Brigadier General Toomas Susi

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Col. Toomas Susi takes over command of Estonian Air Force". err.ee. ERR. 21 July 2022.
  2. ^ Schnitzler, R.; Feuchter, G.W.; Schulz, R., eds. (1939). Handbuch der Luftwaffe [Aviation Manual] (in German) (3rd ed.). Munich and Berlin: J. F. Lehmanns Verlag. p. 65.
  3. ^ "Air Force". Estonian Defence Forces. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2016.
  4. ^ a b Schrik 2016, p. 61.
  5. ^ "Kaitseministeerium - Kaitseinvesteeringud - NATO investeeringud" (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2009. NATO investeeringud
  6. ^ Wright, Helen (8 November 2024). "Gallery: Ämari Air Base's runway reopens". ERR News. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Latvia Prepares Nato Baltic Air Policing Take-over". nato.int. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
  8. ^ Eesti Õhuvägi – Õhuväe Staap Archived 9 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, General Staff of EDF.
  9. ^ a b "Sümboolika: Õhuväe Auastmed". mil.ee (in Estonian). Estonian Defence Forces. Retrieved 26 May 2021.
  10. ^ a b c Hoyle, Craig (2023). "World Air Forces 2024". FlightGlobal. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Estonian Air Force to get two M-28 transport aircraft from US". Baltic Times. 7 August 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Two Estonian Air Force planes accidentally violated Finnish airspace". Republic of Estonia Defense Forces. 2021. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  13. ^ "Heavy Airlift Wing". Strategic Airlift Capability Program. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  14. ^ a b c d "NATO silmamunad Eestimaa kohal". www.tehnikamaailm.ee (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Mobiilsed radarid aitavad ennetada üllatusi". www.postimees.ee (in Estonian). March 2010. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  16. ^ "1st Armoured SISU 8x8 military truck delivery to Estonia". www.asdnews.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
  17. ^ "Estonia buys two airborne radars to construct new wind farms". ERR. 21 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Kaitseministeeriumi majandusaasta aruanne" (PDF). www.kmin.ee (in Estonian). Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
  19. ^ Vahtla, Aili (20 July 2018). "Gallery: Col. Riivo Valge takes command of Estonian Air Force". news.err.ee. ERR. Archived from the original on 20 July 2018. Retrieved 20 July 2018.

Bibliography

[edit]
  • Gerdessen, Frederik. "Estonian Air Power 1918 – 1945". Air Enthusiast, No. 18, April – July 1982. pp. 61–76. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Gerdessen, Frederik; Kitvel, Toivo and Tilk, Johannes. "Aeg, mehed, lennukid" Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus 2001
  • Humberstone, Richard. Estonian Air Force, 1918–1940 (Insignia Air Force Special No.3). London: Blue Rider Publishing, 1999.
  • Kitvel, Toivo and Tilk, Johannes ""Eesti lennukroonika: tekste ja pilte aastani 1940" Tallinn: Aviopol 2003
  • Schrik, Cristian (2016). "On the Front Line". Air Forces Monthly (234): 60–63.
  • World aircraft information files Brightstar publishing file 329 sheet 9
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