After 8 months of thorough renovations, the Estonian base, in which the NATO fighters are stationed, resumes its operation. Among another things, taxiways and runways were changed. As the first on-call in a upgraded base within the framework of the Allied Baltic Air Police mission, the Dutch F-35 will begin.
Polish F-16 and French Mirage 2000 during the Baltic Air Police Mission.
In Ämari, in the north of Estonia, the refurbishment of the military air base, where the Natatian Baltic Air Police on-calls are conducted, ended. The base was closed for 8 months, and On-call fighters moved to Latvia to Lielvārde base.
The work was carried out under the supervision of the Estonian Defence Investment Centre. Among others, the runway surface, 4 taxiways and aprons for aircraft were changed. This full is about 275 000 m2. According to North Atlantic Alliance Air Force Command, the airport drainage strategy has besides been upgraded, the runway markings and taxiways have been listed. The cost of the work carried out was EUR 18.5 million. It was initially funded by Estonia and Luxembourg, but yet the costs will be borne by the North Atlantic Alliance.
The base in Ämari is very large for the safety of the east flank of NATO. There have already been 10 changes in NATO fighters to patrol the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, countries that do not have their own fighter aviation. "Air defence is highly crucial on the east flank of NATO, and I am glad that with the aid of Luxembourg we managed to importantly improve the quality of the Ämari Air Base," said Estonia's defence minister Hanna Pevkur during the reopening ceremony in Ämari. – Thanks to this we can better support and operate both our own and allied aircraft, and most importantly, reconstruct Baltic Air Police Mission to Estonia," he added.
Modernized runway at Ämari base. photograph by Estonian Defence Forces
General Thorsten Poschwatt, commander of the NATO Joint Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany, besides took part in the ceremony, which proves, among others, missions carried out under Baltic Air Police. – After 8 months of work on upgrading the runway here in Ämari, the base is now full available again for NATO Air Police. I congratulate Estonia on these immense efforts and achievements," said Gen. Poschwatt.
The base will begin operating on 1 December. F-35 aircraft from the Kingdom of the Netherlands will begin as the first on call.
Polish F-16 aircraft were besides stationed at the Ämari base. It was the IX and XII change of PKW Orlik. The second lasted from December 2023 to March 2024. 4 fighters from 31 Tactical Air Base and a contingent consisting of about 150 soldiers and military personnel 24 hours a day, on work 7 days a week as part of the Baltic Air Police. Pilots who are in continuous operational readiness They've only got a twelve minutes from the alarm to choice up the fighters. into the air and check the disturbing behaviour of the aircraft. duplicate missions are besides performed at the Lithuanian Saul Air Base.
