A US-led large-scale military exercise in Estonia ended Friday after close to two weeks' maneuvers which included a para jump involving hundreds of American and British airborne troops and the live-firing of several multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS). The exercise also dovetails into Estonian forces' annual Exercise Spring Storm, which starts Monday.
Maj. Gen. Indrek Sirel, commander of the exercise, dubbed Swift Response, and itself a component of the pan-European exercise DEFENDER-Europe 21, said: "The stage of Swift Response in Estonia is coming to an end, but the exercise Defender Europe, led by the United States Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF), is only starting in numerous other states. This exercise with our allies was a good warm-up for Kevadtorm, which is about to begin very soon."