French soldiers with the 13th Demi-Brigade of the Foreign Legion recently conducted an assault drill at the Tapa military training area in Estonia. These soldiers are part of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Estonia, and the exercise aimed to develop their combined arms operation capabilities while also focusing on tactics necessary to maintain mission readiness.

During the drill, the French soldiers had to react to a mine threat, and the combat engineers conducted an initial reconnaissance while using a Black Hornet drone to carry out other tasks. After determining the enemy's location, strength, and dispositions, the Foreign Legionnaires dismounted from their multi-role armoured vehicles 'Griffon' and gained the upper hand on the opposing force.

The assault drill was part of the French contingent's preparation for upcoming training events, such as exercise Bold Hussar, which will integrate all elements of the UK-led battlegroup into the Estonian 1st Infantry Brigade. The French Army has been deploying its forces to the Baltic Sea region as part of what is called Mission Lynx.

Overall, the exercise served as an opportunity to sharpen the French soldiers' tactical edge and enhance their ability to operate in a simulated combat environment. With the threat of conflict remaining high, such drills are essential to ensuring the readiness of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence and its ability to respond quickly and effectively to any potential threat.