Apr 20 2020

French Air Force Fighter Aircraft to Fly NATO Missions out of Estonia

ÄMARI, Estonia - At the end of April the French Air Force is deploying Mirage 2000-5 fighter aircraft to Ämari Air Base, Estonia, augmenting NATO’s peacetime Baltic Air Policing mission.

The Estonian population near Ämari, some 35 kilometres west of the Capital Tallinn, will get used to French Mirage 2000-5 fighters for the next four months as they take off from the Estonian Air Base. The 200-strong French detachment of pilots, maintainers, logisticians and support personnel will operate the Mirage 2000-5 aircraft from Luxeuil Air Base executing NATO’s peacetime mission patrolling the Baltic skies.

Eight French fighter deployments under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission since 2007 demonstrate France’s active role showcasing the spirit of this Alliance – one for all, all for one

“France is proud to be able to provide this support to NATO’s standing peacetime mission here in the Baltics, while at the same time ensuring the overall spectrum of its missions,” said Lieutenant Colonel Mathieu Courtaban, the commander of the French detachment.

The French Air Force deployment takes place under NATO’s enhanced Air Policing concept introduced in April 2014 as part of NATO’s intent to demonstrate collective resolve of the Allies and the readiness and defensive nature of NATO and to assure eastern Allies.

“A total of eight French Air Force fighter deployments under NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission since 2007 demonstrate France’s active role showcasing the spirit of this Alliance – one for all, all for one,” said Lieutenant Colonel Courtaban.

Ten years after the start of the Baltic Air Policing mission at Šiauliai, Lithuania, a second Allied detachment has been deployed to Ämari, Estonia, under enhanced Air Policing (eAP) arrangements. Since April 2014, 12 Allies have taken turns to deploy to the Baltic region under eAP (France, the United Kingdom, Denmark, the Netherlands, Germany, Canada, Poland, Spain, Italy, Portugal and the Czech Republic. This second detachment increases the Allied Air Policing capability in the Baltic region offering NATO increased operational flexibility and multi-domain training opportunities.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office

French Air Force Mirage 2000-5 will deploy to Estonia where they will  conduct NATO enhanced Air Policing at Ämari Air Base. Archive photo by Cynthia Vernat.

During a previous deployment in 2018, French air Force Mirage 2000-5 figher aircraft taxiing after their arrival at Ämari Air Base, Estonia. Archive photo by Cynthia Vernat.

The French Aior Force Mirage 2000-5 fighters will be kept ready at Ämari Air Base, Estonia,m to scramble under NATO's Baltic Air Policing. Archive picture by Cynthia Vernat