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Defense & Security News - United Kingdom
 
British soldiers with Challenger 2 tanks and AS90 artillery howitzers are deployed in Estonia.
British soldiers from the 5th Battalion The Rifles Battlegroup (5 RIFLES), including members of an Armoured Engineer Squadron, Military Police Detachment, Artillery Group and Port Task Group, arrived at Amari airbase in Estonia, Saturday, March 18, 2017.
     
British soldiers from the 5th Battalion The Rifles Battlegroup (5 RIFLES), including members of an Armoured Engineer Squadron, Military Police Detachment, Artillery Group and Port Task Group, arrived at Amari airbase in Estonia, Saturday, March 18, 2017.
Around 120 UK troops have arrived in Estonia as part of one of the biggest British deployments to Eastern Europe in decades. (Picture British MoD)
     
The 120 soldiers are fundamental to setting up a UK headquarters in the country before the rest of the UK deployment arrives next month, increasing the total number of troops in Estonia to around 800.

The UK is taking a leading role in NATO’s enhanced Forward Presence, alongside several other contributing nations. The deployments are designed to assure NATO allies of the mutual commitment to collective European security.

Working alongside the UK forces this year will be French personnel, and from next year, Danish partners. All are there at the request of the Estonian Government. The Battlegroup will provide a proportionate, defensive, and combat capable force to defend our NATO ally and deter any form of hostile activity against the Alliance.

Last week, around 300 UK vehicles have also departed to Estonia, including Warrior infantry fighting vehicles, Challenger 2 tanks and AS90 self-propelled artillery howitzers. These vehicles, loaded onto a Roll-On-Roll-Off ferry, are currently on their way and set to arrive towards the middle of next week. French armoured vehicles, including tanks, are also due to arrive in Estonia via train after being loaded March 17, 2017.
     
Friday, March 17, 2017, combat vehicles from 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, 35 Engineer Regiment and Challenger 2 MBT from the Queen's Royal Hussars, all based in Germany, are loaded at the port of Emden ahead of their NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) deployment to Estonia. (Picture British MoD)
Friday, March 17, 2017, combat vehicles from 26th Regiment Royal Artillery, 35 Engineer Regiment and Challenger 2 MBT from the Queen's Royal Hussars, all based in Germany, are loaded at the port of Emden ahead of their NATO enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) deployment to Estonia. (Picture British MoD)
     
British AS90 155mm self-propelled howitzers from the 26 Regiment Royal Artillery are loaded at the port of Emden to be deployed in Estonia. (Picture British moD)
British AS90 155mm self-propelled howitzers from the 26 Regiment Royal Artillery are loaded at the port of Emden to be deployed in Estonia. (Picture British moD)