UK Air Defense Battery Arrives in Estonia to Take Part in Drills

© AP Photo / Mindaugas KulbisBritish soldiers attend a military exercise north of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania.
British soldiers attend a military exercise north of the capital Vilnius, Lithuania. - Sputnik International
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A UK air defense battery of the 16th Regiment Royal Artillery armed with Rapier surface-to-air missiles arrived on Friday at the Emari airbase near Tallinn to take part in drills, the General Staff of the Estonian Defence Forces said.

Estonia's Foreign Minister Marina Kaljurand (L) listens while her Finnish counterpart Timo Soini speaks during their joint news conference in Helsinki, Finland, on September 23, 2015 - Sputnik International
Estonian Foreign Ministry Welcomes UK Troop Deployment to Baltic States
TALLINN (Sputnik) – Jaak Tarieni, commander-in-chief of the Estonian air forces, said that air defense systems are a primary need of the Estonian Defence Forces, which makes using UK experience in the sphere very important for the country, the statement at the Estonian Defence Forces’ website said.

The UK battery commander Andy Bates said that the drills would boost capabilities of the allies.

The UK Eurofighter Typhoon jets that in late April started air policing in the Baltic states as well as US A-10 Thunderbolt planes that arrived in Estonia in July 25 will also take part in the drills, according to the statement.

Since 2014, NATO has been building up its military presence in Europe, especially in Eastern European countries neighbouring Russia, using Moscow’s alleged interference in the Ukrainian conflict as a pretext. The Russian authorities have said such moves undermine stability.

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