Ämari Serves as Control Center for NATO Exercise for First Time
Ämari Air Base hosted its first NATO exercise yesterday, as part of the three-day Baltic Regional Training Event for fighter jets.
French, Belgian, Finnish and Baltic representatives were present, as were NATO officials and Estonian Defense Minister Urmas Reinsalu, reported Postimees.
"The Baltic air defense exercise is a clear sign that NATO's airspace is indivisible and NATO is capable of controlling and defending its airspace," Reinsalu said. "The Ämari Air Base has developed to become capable of operations and is ready to host allies' combat and transport aircraft."
The Baltic airspace patrol mission was made permanent last year. First established in 2004, the initiative involves up to four jets at a time with providing countries rotating every four months.
Exercises are conducted three times a year, one in each Baltic country.
Currently, Baltic skies are patrolled by Belgian F-16s.
