NATO Fighter Jets Train Over Estonian Airspace

Portuguese Air Force F-16 fighter jets, stationed at Ämari Air Base in Estonia, will conduct training flights over Estonian airspace from June 10 to June 11. These exercises are part of the Baltic Air Policing mission, a NATO operation to safeguard the skies of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.

The flights are scheduled between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. daily from June 8 to June 14, with specific F-16 training sessions occurring between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on June 10 and 11. The training will involve supersonic flights, which may produce sonic booms, and low-altitude flights, not dropping below 152 meters (500 feet). While efforts will be made to avoid populated areas, aircraft may pass over settlements or isolated farms.

All training activities are conducted in accordance with Estonian laws and in coordination with the Transport Administration and the Air Navigation Services of Estonia. The F-16s participating in the mission are based in Ämari, Estonia, and Šiauliai, Lithuania, as part of NATO's collective defense efforts. These drills are crucial for maintaining the readiness of NATO aircraft to respond effectively to any potential air incidents in the region.