Estonian Air Force

The Estonian Air Force (Estonian: Eesti Õhuvägi, listen ) 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.

Estonian Air Force
Eesti Õhuvägi
Estonian Air Force badge
Active	1918–1940 1991–present
Country	Estonia
Type	Air force
Role	Aerial warfare
Size	250 (+400) personnel
Part of	Estonian Defence Forces
Command HQ	Tallinn Õhuväe Staap Ämari Lennubaas
March	"Lennuväepoiste laul"
Anniversaries	21 November 1918 16 December 1991
Engagements	Estonian War of Independence
Commanders
Commander of the Estonian Air Force	Colonel Rauno Sirk[1]
Insignia
Roundel
Fin flash
Flag

As of 2016, the Estonian Air Force has a strength of 300 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

1918–1940

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 (Lennuväe rügement), comprising a landplane squadron, seaplane squadron, flying school and workshops. More bases and seaplane stations were built.

An Estonian Avro Anson in the late 1930s

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 Russians 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 Corps of the Soviet Army in the summer of 1940.

1991–present

An Estonian Aero L-39C Albatros in flight

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.

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-8's were upgraded.

The Õhuvägi 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.

On July 20, 2018, Colonel Riivo Valge replaced Colonel Jaak Tarien as the Commander of the Air Force.[6]

Organization

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

Ämari

Levalõpme

Otepää

Kellavere

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.[7]

• Air Surveillance Wing

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]

• Ämari Air Base

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.

Order of Battle

• Air Force Headquarters, in Tallinn
  • Air Surveillance Wing, at Ämari Air Base
    • Air Operations Control Centre, at Ämari Air Base, reports to the Baltic Air Surveillance Network's Regional Airspace Surveillance Coordination Centre, in Karmėlava in Lithuania
    • Engineering and Technical Group, at Ämari Air Base
      • Radar Station, in Levalõpme, with GM 403
      • Radar Station, in Otepää, with GM 403
      • Radar Station, in Kellavere, with AN/TPS-77(V)
      • Airport Surveillance Radar at Ämari Air Base, with GCA-2020
  • Ämari Air Base
    • Flight Group
    • Airfield Operations Group
    • Air Force Support Group
    • Air Base Operations Centre
    • Air Base Defence Operations Centre
    • Air Force Training Centre

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						OF(D)						Student officer
Estonia (Edit)	No equivalent																								No equivalent
			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
Estonia (Edit)																											No equivalent
	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

Main article: List of historic Estonian Air Force aircraft

The modern Estonian Air Force has been rebuilding the destroyed military infrastructure since 1994 when the last Russian Army 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

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Transport
M28 Skytruck	Poland	transport		2[8]
Helicopters
Robinson R44	United States	trainer / patrol		4[8]	To be retired in 2020.[9]
Trainer Aircraft
Aero L-39	Czech Republic	jet trainer		2[8]

Note : Three C-17 Globemaster III's are available through the Heavy Airlift Wing based in Hungary.[10]

Radar

Name	Origin	Type	In service	Notes
AN/TPS-77	United States	Passive electronically scanned array	1[11][12]	modernized in 2014.[13]
VERA-E[11][12]	Czech Republic	Passive radar
Ground Master 403	France	Active electronically scanned array	2[11][12]	mounted on Sisu E13TP vehicle[14]
GCA-2020	United States	Precision approach radar	1	based at Ämari Air Base[13]

See also

• Police and Border Guard Aviation Group

References

1. "Õhuväe uus ülem on kolonel Rauno Sirk". www,mil.ee. 19 July 2019.
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. Schrik 2016, p. 61.
5. "Archived copy" (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 3 January 2009.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) NATO investeeringud
6. 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.
7. Eesti Õhuvägi – Õhuväe Staap Archived 9 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine, General Staff of EDF.
8. "World Air Forces 2020". Flightglobal Insight. 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
9. "Õhuvägi lõpetab sel aastal Robinsonide kasutamise". err.ee (in Estonian). ERR. 2 June 2020.
10. "Heavy Airlift Wing". Strategic Airlift Capability Program. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
11. "NATO silmamunad Eestimaa kohal". www.tehnikamaailm.ee (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
12. "Mobiilsed radarid aitavad ennetada üllatusi". www.postimees.ee (in Estonian). Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.
13. "Kaitseministeeriumi majandusaasta aruanne" (PDF). www.kmin.ee (in Estonian). Archived (PDF) from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
14. "1st Armoured SISU 8x8 military truck delivery to Estonia". www.asdnews.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 22 January 2018.

Bibliography

• Gerdessen, Frederik "Estonian Air Power 1918 – 1945". Air Enthusiast No 18, April – July 1982. Pages 61–76. ISSN 0143-5450.
• Humberstone, Richard. Estonian Air Force, 1918–1940 (Insignia Air Force Special No.3). London: Blue Rider Publishing, 1999.
• Gerdessen, Frederik; Kitvel, Toivo and Tilk, Johannes. "Aeg, mehed, lennukid" Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus 2001
• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• World aircraft information files Brightstar publishing file 329 sheet 9

External links

• The official webpage of the Estonian Air Force