Latest news with #ExerciseHedgehog
Glasgow Times
3 days ago
- General
- Glasgow Times
Cambuslang soldier deployed on Exercise Hedgehog near Russia
Fusilier David Whyte, 18, is serving with the 2nd Battalion of The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 SCOTS) as part of a 2 SCOTS-led Battlegroup to Estonia. The soldiers are joining thousands of other British Army troops as part of Exercise Hedgehog. Read more: Visa rules leaving Ukrainian refugees in Glasgow 'unemployable' (Image: Crown Copyright 2025)The exercise, running from May 9 to 24, involves 17,000 troops from 12 nations and is designed to test Estonia's defences and NATO's ability to respond rapidly to potential threats from Russia. A former pupil of Cathkin High School in Cambuslang, David joined the army at just 16, training at the Army Foundation College in Harrogate. He said: "I joined the army because it was something different, not sitting in an office. "While at Harrogate, I enjoyed going on a battlefield tour to France. "My proudest moments so far have been passing out at Harrogate and getting through the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick." Exercise Hedgehog marks the young soldier's first overseas deployment with the army. (Image: Crown Copyright 2025) David said: "It was something completely different getting on a military flight to get here. "Sitting on a massive RAF plane was a bit different to getting on a Jet2 plane to go on holiday." David's brother, who joined the army two weeks before him, has also been deployed to Estonia with a different company. The 2 SCOTS regiment formed a battlegroup in the Nursipalu training area in south-east Estonia, where they conducted urban and woodland combat training. The soldiers built trenches in the Estonian forest, similar to those dug by Ukrainian soldiers to protect against Russia's invasion. Attacking forces made up of other NATO allies assaulted the trench positions using drones with simulated pyrotechnic munitions, blank ammunition fired by machine guns, and simulation grenades. (Image: Crown Copyright 2025) Read more: Call to build war memorial at Glasgow's Kelvingrove Museum Exercise Hedgehog serves as a Forward Land Force (FLF) mission rehearsal, offering an opportunity for the FLF and allies and partner nations from across NATO to deploy to Estonia. The UK's 4th Light Brigade Combat Team — known as The Black Rats — is leading the deployment. Thousands of British troops travelled by road, rail, sea, and air, arriving in under 48 hours, demonstrating the British Army's ability to mobilise a large-scale force rapidly. The mass transit of troops demonstrated the British Army's ability to quickly deploy a large-scale force to aid a NATO ally that borders Russia.
STV News
3 days ago
- General
- STV News
Scots teen deployed to Russian border to help train Estonian soldiers
A soldier from Glasgow was deployed on a major military exercise in Estonia close to the Russian border. Fusilier David Whyte, of the 2nd Battalion in The Royal Regiment of Scotland, joined thousands of other British Army troops also taking part in Exercise Hedgehog. The exercise, which involved 17,000 troops from 12 nations, marked the 18-year-old's first overseas deployment. David, who was born in Glasgow, spoke on his first deployment saying: 'It was something completely different getting on a military flight to get here. Army Communications Branch Fusilier David Whyte of the 2nd Battalion in The Royal Regiment of Scotland. Army Communications Branch 'Sitting on a massive RAF plane was a bit different to getting on a Jet2 plane to go on holiday.' The exercise, which ran from May 9 to 24, aimed to test the ability of the Estonian armed forces in their response to potential attacks from Russia. It was also organised to to practice the rapid and large-scale deployment of allied forces to Estonia. David joined the army at 16 training to be a soldier the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, England. Army Communications Branch The exercise saw 17,000 troops from 12 nations deployed to Estonia. Army Communications Branch 'I joined the Army because it was something different, not sitting in an office. While at Harrogate, I enjoyed going on a battlefield tour to France.' He added: 'My proudest moments so far have been passing out at Harrogate and getting through the Infantry Training Centre at Catterick.' David's brother, who joined the Army two weeks after him, was also deployed to Estonia with a different company. David's regiment, 2 SCOTS, formed a Battlegroup in the Nursipalu training area in south-east Estonia where they have conducted urban and woodland combat training. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
DW
22-05-2025
- Politics
- DW
Inside Europe 22 May 2025 – DW – 05/22/2025
Kate Laycock 05/22/2025 May 22, 2025 On the show this week: Poland's presidential elections reveal a country on a knife-edge, Exercise Hedgehog in Estonia and the Baltics' hybrid warfare fears. Plus a Hungarian spy ring, Icelandic intrigue, Swiss bunkers, and Syrians returning home from Europe. A security special packed with stories from the frontlines of Europe's shifting geopolitics.
Daily Record
22-05-2025
- Daily Record
British Army's new hit-tech howitzer is locked, loaded and ready for action
Archer 155m artilery used for the first time during NATO's Exercise Hedgehog in Estonia The British Army has made significant strides in its artillery modernisation programme, unveiling the new Archer 155m wheeled self-propelled howitzers during a NATO exercise in Estonia. The first operational deployment was announced during Exercise Hedgehog, a large-scale multinational drill taking place this month, highlighting the UK's increasing commitment to the eastern flank and the swift integration of advanced artillery into its frontline service. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed the system's participation through a series of images showing the armed forces utilising it in live training scenarios. Archer represents a massive leap forward from the AS90, which has been the mainstay of British artillery for decades. First introduced in the early 1990s, it underwent several upgrades over the years but eventually reached its technological and operational limits. The tracked chassis was not only slow, making it less suitable for the rapid developments required by modern expeditionary and NATO-aligned operations, but the manually loaded gun system and outdated fire control technology also fell behind, reports the Express. The need for a new and 'better' system was hastened by the UK's decision to donate 32 units to Ukraine in 2023, supporting them in their conflict with Russia - this left a growing gap in the British Army's self-propelled artillery capabilities. This led to the introduction of the Archer systems, supplied by Sweden's BAE Systems Bofors, offering a more mature, field-tested and ready-to-deploy alternative that aligns with NATO interoperability standards. The system represents next-generation technology designed for mobility, automation and survivability, mounted on a 6x6 Volvo chassis featuring a fully automated 155mm L52 gun-howitzer. The Archer can engage targets within a mere 30 seconds of receiving a fire order, deliver six rounds in less than a minute, and has the flexibility to swiftly relocate to evade enemy fire. Moreover, Archers can fire precision-guided munitions, such as the M982 Excalibur, capable of hitting targets over 50km away - a significant 20km improvement on the older and less effective AS90. Its armoured cabin allows the entire operation of the weapon to be conducted from within, safeguarding the crew whether they are targeting or firing. It also features automated loading and firing systems, reducing the physical workload and manpower needed to operate. The decision to switch to the Archer 155mm wheeled self-propelled howitzer sees the UK join other NATO nations like Sweden and Norway who have also adopted the system. As Europe contends with an ever-changing security landscape, the UK's investment in systems like Archer highlights its firm commitment to maintaining a modern, efficient, and agile military force prepared to navigate the complexities of 21st Century conflict.
