Troops on Ex Bold Dragon to improve coordination with French and Estonian personnel

British troops have taken part in Exercise Bold Dragon in Estonia to integrate the Nato multinational battalion with the 1st Estonian Infantry Brigade.

The personnel took part in a tactical training exercise with French and Estonian troops to simulate a defensive coordination manoeuvre and to reinforce their ability to operate together effectively. 

The exercise is part of Operation Cabrit, which is the UK's contribution to Nato's Forward Land Forces in Estonia and Poland, as the alliance works to secure its eastern flank. 

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The training ensures that the countries know each other's tactics and know how to communicate with one another. 

"Firstly, the interoperability piece, so to ensure that as a battlegroup, we're ready to embed within the 1st Estonian Brigade and achieve our wider mission with Nato and within Estonia itself," Captain Henry Sawyer said. 

"I think it's also a training opportunity for us to get together as a battlegroup and try and improve how we are fighting amongst one another and also to improve our overall capability as a battlegroup."

These territories are key to protecting Nato allies, with their importance highlighted by the threat from Russia. 

The scheme was set up to show the strength of the alliance through unity and collective defence against outside threats. 

"A successful outcome, I think, the people of Estonia are reassured and our long-standing commitment to Estonia to be bolstered and I think to act as a deterrence to anyone that would seek to infringe upon Nato sovereign territory," Capt Sawyer said. 

During the training, the troops worked with first-person view and dropper drones and practised their anti-tank capability. 

Capt Sawyer added that forestry in the region makes it a difficult exercise to move armour. 

"I think what enhances it is just how challenging the terrain is. It's incredibly canalising on the central training area, which isn't reflective of the whole of Estonia, but certainly is reflective of how much forestry covers the Estonian land.

"[It is] really, really challenging moving armour safely through canalised forest area."

The British military deployment, which numbers roughly 900 personnel, to Estonia is part of the enhanced Forward Presence (eFP).