Estonian Land Forces

Estonian Land Forces
Maavägi
Active	1918–1940 1991–present
Country	Estonia
Type	Army
Role	Land warfare
Size	4,000 active personnel (2021)[1] 37,000 reserve (4,000 in permanent readiness, 2023)[2]
Part of	Estonian Defence Forces
Engagements	Estonian War of Independence War in Afghanistan Iraq War Mali War
Website	mil.ee/uksused/maavagi

The Estonian Land Forces (Estonian: Maavägi), unofficially referred to as the Estonian Army, is the name of the unified ground forces among the Estonian Defense Forces where it has an offensive military formation role. The Estonian Land Forces is currently the largest Estonian military branch, with an average size of approximately 6,000 soldiers, conscripts, and officers during peacetime.

The Maavägi development priorities are the capability to participate in missions outside the national territory and perform operations to protect the territory of Estonia, also in co-operation with the Allies. The Maavägi component of the operational structure consists of an infantry brigade and a homeland security structure. Deployable infantry battalion tactical group and some deployable CS, CSS units will develop in the Army structure in accordance with NATO Force Proposals requirements. The infantry brigade will be a training and support frame for deployable units. Homeland security structure units can carry out territorial military tasks and support civil structures.

The Land Forces are structured according to the principle of a reserve force, which means that the main part of the State's defence forces are units in a trained reserve. The reserve units are formed on the territorial principle, i.e. conscripts from one area are called up at one time to one unit and after service, they are sent to the reserve as one unit.