“Black Rats” Practice Defending Estonia In Major Exercise 

A Soldier from the 1st Battalion of the Duke of Lancaster providing security during Exercise Hedgehog. Image: Corporal Vincent Price, UK MOD © Crown copyright 2025

Travelling from the UK by road, rail, sea and air, the mass transit of troops, managed by 4th Light Brigade Combat Team, also known as ‘The Black Rats’, has demonstrated the British Army’s ability to rapidly deploy a large-scale force to support a NATO ally that borders Russia. 

Exercise Hedgehog, running from 9 to 24 May, aims to assess the combat readiness of the Estonian Defence Force (EDF) and its units, test the EDF’s ability to respond to threat scenarios and practice the rapid and large-scale deployment of allied forces to Estonia.

Brigadier Giles Harris, Deputy Commander Estonian Division, said:

“Forty-eight hours ago a multinational combat brigade was in the UK and France and their home locations held at high readiness to deploy as part of NATO’s Forward Land Force (FLF).

“In a full operational rehearsal of the Estonian National Defence Plan we are now here, rehearsing to defend Estonia under the command of the Estonian Division and NATO.

“The Brigade’s rapid deployment by road, rail, sea and air has seen them cross the continent ready to support our allies in the Baltic states. Together we are stronger, together we are NATO.”

To read more, please click here. 

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