Estonian Air Force
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| Estonian Air Force, Eesti Õhuvägi | |
|---|---|
 Estonian Air Force roundel and emblem |
|
| Active | 1918–present |
| Country | Estonia |
| Type | Air-force |
| Role | Protect national airspace |
| Size | 210 |
| Commanders | |
| Brigadier General | Valeri Saar [1] |
| Defence Minister | Jaak Aaviksoo |
The Estonian Air Force (Estonian: Õhuvägi, literally "Air Force", listen ) is the name of the unified aviation forces of Estonia.
Contents |
[edit] Estonian Air Force
The Õhuvägi is the main arm of the Estonian aviation forces. The average size of the military formation in peacetime is about 210 men. The Estonian Air Force reduces the political, military, economical, social, environmental and psychological threats. The Air Force has important role in enhancing flight safety in Estonian airspace.
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 - 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.
[edit] History
Estonian Air Force has long and fascinating history. The roots of the current organization go back to the 21 November 1918 when the Commander of Engineering Battalion Voldemar Victor Riiberg assigned August Roos to organize the flight unit. The Independence War gave great impulses to the development of the young Air Force.
After the Russian revolution of February 1917, 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. Germany surrendered on 11 November 1918, and the Estonian provisional government immediately set about establishing a military aviation unit. The Aviation Company of the Engineer Battalion began to establish air bases near Tallinn for seaplanes and landplanes, but it wasn't 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.
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. Plans to acquire Spitfires and Lysanders from Britain where thwarted when the outbreak of war 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. Soviet-style elections were organised and the resulting communist parliament applied for membership of the Soviet Union. This was granted on 6 August 1940. 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.
On 22 June 1941 Nazi Germany invaded the Soviet Union. The speed of the advance was such that Estonia was soon cut-off from Russia by German forces. The 22nd Territorial Corps was ordered to evacuate to Russia but many Estonian personnel deserted and joined the guerrilla forces fighting the retreating Red Army. The Germans were welcomed as liberators when they arrived.
On 12 February 1942 Sonderstaffel Buschmann was established as an Estonian manned coastal patrol unit operating under orders from the German forces. The unit rapidly expanded to 40-50 aircraft and some 200 personnel. During 1943 it was redesignated Aufklärungsgruppe 127 (AGr 127) and became a regular Luftwaffe unit. On 18 October 1943 AGr 127 was split into See-Aufklärungsgruppe 127 and Nachtschlachtgruppe 11. Early in 1944, the approach of the re-invigorated Soviet Army led to renewed fears of Soviet occupation. Thousands of Estonians volunteered to fight alongside the Germans, but during September 1944 the Red Army occupied the country.
During the subsequent Soviet presence, Estonia became heavily militarised, with some 10% of the population being Soviet troops based at over 500 military installations. Estonian Air Force was re-established at 16 December 1991 after the restoration of the Republic of Estonia in 1991.
[edit] Units
- Radar units:
- Ground units:
- Staff units:
General Staff of the Air Force
[edit] Estonian Air Force equipment
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 have been directed to the Ämari military airfield which will be completed around 2010. Due to the lack of modern and developed military aviation infrastructure the Estonian Air Force development has been very slow.
[edit] Anti-aircraft artillery
[edit] Surface-to-air missiles
- 90mm Surface-to-air missile Mistral, standard issue air defence system
[edit] Radar systems
[edit] Estonian Air Force aircraft inventory
[edit] Historical Inventory
Estonian Air Force had more than 130 aircraft in the middle of 1930s.[2] The organization consisted then the Naval Aviation Group, Flight School, Air Base, Air Defence Artillery Group. Estonian engineers designed and constructed trainer aircraft / light fighter for ordered Supermine Spitfire. Compared to best fighter aircraft of the era it was rather slow and lightly armed, but was with good manuvering. [3]
Before occupation Estonia had also placed an order for 12 Supermarine Spitfires. Two of them were finished, but never reached Estonia, because manufacturer and Estonia agreed to change the air craft's propellers.[4] The delivery was interupted by the start of World War 2. The planes later served in RAF.
1 Farman HF-30
1 Shchetinin M-16
1 Sopwith Strutter
1 Sopwith Cael 2F1
2 RAF BE2e
2 Norman Thompson NT2B
4 Halberstadt CL.IV
5 Halberstadt C.V
4 DFW C.V
12 Avro 504K
12 Avro 504R
13 Aicro DH.9
6 Short 184
1 AGO C.IV
8 RAF RE8
7 Nieuport
1 Lebedev 12
1 Grigorovitch M-11
1 Friedrichshafen FF41AT
1 FBA Type H
15 GL-22
2 SPAD S.VII
9 Potez 25A.2
2 Hanriot HD-14
6 Avro 594 Avian
12 Bristol Bulldog Mk.II
2 Siskin IIIDC
4 Letov Smolnik 228E
4 Avro 626 Prefect
8 Hawker Hart
4 PON-1A (homemade, comparable to Miles Magister)
1 Avro Anson
1 Miles Magister
1 PN-3 (homemade)
2 PTO-4 (homemade)
5 Hs 126B-1Hs-126
all [5]
[edit] Modern Inventory
Today, the EAF mainly has transport and trainer aircraft and the fighter air defence is provided by NATO air forces on a rotating schedule (see Baltic Air Policing).
[edit] Helicopters
- Robinson R44 utility helicopter
[edit] Aicraft
- Aero L-39 Albatros jet trainer aircraft
- LET L-13 Blaník trainer glider
[edit] Estonian Air Force future development
Estonian Air Force development tasks and projects beyond 2010:
- additional 3D ground radars
- Search and rescue helicopters
- combat aircraft and light combat helicopters
- air transport aircraft
- portable air-defence rockets
- Ämari airfield reconstruction
[edit] References
- ^ Valeri Saar
- ^ Humberstone 41-45
- ^ Gerdessen, Frederik; Kitvel, Toivo and Tilk, Johannes. "Aeg, mehed, lennukid" Tallinn: Eesti Entsüklopeediakirjastus 2001
- ^ ERA.526.1.84 (Estonian National Archive, Fund 526, Directory 1, Preserve 84)
- ^ Humberstone 41-45
[edit] 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
