The cooperation with the Allies has been successful for both sides as we share our knowledge and experiences

The Estonian Air Force unit Ämari Air Base was founded on 15 May 1997 as a tactical military unit of the Estonian Defence Forces under the command of the Commander of the Estonian Air Force. The main tasks of the Air Base are providing host nation support for the Allies’ personnel and aircraft and the organisation of aviation activities in the Estonian Defence Forces.

Up until 2004 Ämari Air Base also housed a conscript training facility; today the base is only staffed with active servicemen and civilian employees. A major base infrastructure overhaul from 2008 to 2012 paved the way for Ämari Air Base to meet the criteria for inclusion in NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence System. 

Starting in May 2014, Ämari Air Base received NATO’s fighter detachments, which were deployed to increase the Alliance’s Air Policing capability and assure Allies on the eastern flank of NATO cohesion, solidarity and readiness. 

„Since 2014, we have had the chance to work with nine different nations. The cooperation with the Allies has been successful for both sides as we share our knowledge and experiences,“ said Lieutenant Colonel Trubok.

In addition to the facilitating NATO’s Air Policing fighter deployments and national training flights, Ämari Air Base hosts aircraft during NATO Air Policing exercises with participation of Swedish and Finnish fighters and multinational exercises such as the bilateral Estonian-US exercise Saber Strike.