Estonian Defence Forces
The Estonian Defence Forces (Estonian: Eesti Kaitsevägi) is the unified military force of the Republic of Estonia. The Estonian Defence Forces consists of the Estonian Land Forces, the Estonian Navy, the Estonian Air Force, and the paramilitary Estonian Defence League. The national defence policy aims to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state, the integrity of its land area, territorial waters, 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 development of the defence forces in a way that ensures their interoperability with the armed forces of NATO and European Union member states to participate in the full range of missions for these military alliances.
| Estonian Defence Forces | |
|---|---|
| Eesti Kaitsevägi | |
Emblem of the Estonian Defence Forces | |
Flag of the Estonian Defence Forces | |
| Founded | 12 November 1918 |
| Current form | 3 September 1991 |
| Service branches | Estonian Land Forces Estonian Navy Estonian Air Force |
| Headquarters | Headquarters of the Estonian Defence Forces, Tallinn |
| Website | mil.ee |
| Leadership | |
| President | Alar Karis |
| Prime Minister | Kaja Kallas |
| Minister of Defence | Hanno Pevkur |
| Commander of the Defence Forces | Gen. Martin Herem |
| Command Sergeant Major | Enn Adoson |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18 |
| Conscription | 8 or 11 months |
| Fit for military service | 216,483 males, age 15–49, 260,408 females, age 15–49 |
| Active personnel | 7,700 (3,500 conscripts) |
| Reserve personnel | 78,800 (38,800 in rapid response readiness) |
| Deployed personnel | 141 |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | €1 billion (2023) |
| Percent of GDP | 2.85% (2023) |
| Related articles | |
| History | |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Estonia |