Estonia opens first Tracked Manoeuvre Live Fire Battle Runs for military training

This range enables 360-degree live-fire exercises, allowing tanks, self-propelled artillery, and infantry fighting vehicles to train in realistic battlefield conditions. The project was funded through NATO’s Security Investment Programme (NSIP), which supports infrastructure critical to the alliance’s military objectives.

Previously, Estonian forces conducted similar training at Ādaži training grounds in Latvia, which were frequently booked due to allied forces’ shared use. Elari Kalmaru, Training Areas Portfolio Manager at the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI), explained that this led to the decision to construct a dedicated facility in Estonia to ensure consistent access for national and allied troops.

The new battle runs are designed to meet NATO standards, incorporating recommendations from allied forces and experts in armoured warfare training. Lieutenant Colonel Ranno Raudsik, commander of the Scouts Battalion, highlighted the importance of the facility, stating: “The Scouts Battalion must be several times better than the opponent to ensure success on the battlefield. Good training and excellent training opportunities create the necessary conditions for this.”

The training area features four northeast-southwest-oriented tank roads and 1.5 kilometres of concrete firing positions, providing stability and precision for heavy weaponry. Siim Pikkur, Training Areas Portfolio Administration Manager at ECDI, explained that the target placements have been built to allied specifications, ensuring flexibility for various training scenarios.

The facility also includes rising targets and moving targets positioned at 300m and 350m, enabling soldiers to train against simulated enemy forces. The northern section of the range features a relocatable observation tower made of shipping containers, offering improved fire control and exercise monitoring.

Aleksander Lember, head of the construction division at Tariston AS, described the project as the company’s most significant undertaking in the central training area since 2008. He emphasised the complexity of the challenge but expressed satisfaction that the project was successfully completed in cooperation with the Defence Forces.

The battle runs are part of broader NATO-funded infrastructure developments in Estonia, which have included upgrades to Ämari Air Base, NATO’s headquarters facilities, and the RSOM logistics hub in Tapa. Current projects under the NSIP programme also include the NATO Cyber Range Project and improvements at Miinisadam naval base.