The first big exercise for the Royal Welsh Battlegroup in Estonia, Exercise Bold Dragon, took place last week to test interoperability between the British and French forces and integration with the 1st Estonian Infantry Brigade.
This was a tactical training exercise with French and Estonian troops to simulate a defensive coordination manoeuvre and to reinforce their ability to operate together effectively.
Captain Henry Sawyer of the Royal Welsh said: “Firstly, the interoperability piece, so to ensure that as a battlegroup, we’re ready to embed within the 1st Estonian Brigade and achieve our wider mission with Nato and within Estonia itself.”
During the training, the troops worked with first-person view and dropper drones and practised their anti-tank capability.
Captain Sawyer added that forestry in the region makes it a difficult exercise to move armour.
“I think what enhances it is just how challenging the terrain is.
“It’s incredibly canalising on the central training area, which isn’t reflective of the whole of Estonia, but certainly is reflective of how much forestry covers the Estonian land.
“It is really, really challenging moving armour safely through canalised forest area.”
IRON DIVISION SHOWS ITS TEETH
At an Armoured Expo event on Salisbury Plain, Major General Olly Brown, General Officer Commanding 3rd (UK) Division, told industry partners: “We face a demanding challenge to be ready to fight, pick apart, and destroy a Russian warfighting enterprise.
“We cannot do that alone; we must do it with our mission partners.
“We will not generate the capability, nor will we thrive on the battlefield without you, so my thanks to you all for coming to join us today.”
Immersive experiences threw guests straight into a simulated fight with the enemy and made clear the progress made by the Iron Division and its industry partners.
A live demonstration showed how autonomous armoured ground vehicles, drones, and soldiers will work together on the battlefield.
TANKIES TRAIN WORLD CUP SQUAD
The Royal Tank Regiment was honoured, on behalf of the British Army, to deliver a three-day leadership and development camp to the England Women’s Cricket World Cup Squad 2026, prior to their campaign this summer.