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ÄMARI, Estonia - Allied and Partner Air Forces in the Baltic Region participated in the Baltic Trident training event March 16 to 18, 2021. 

U.S. Air Force F-15 fighter jets from RAF Lakenheath and KC-135 from RAF Mildenhall in the United Kingdom deloyed to Ämari Air Base, Estonia. The Estonian base is also the temporary home for the German Air Force Eurofighter detachment, augmenting NATO's Baltic Air Policing here, During the Baltic Trident exercise, both Allies flew combined missions with Allies Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, the United Kingdom and Partner Finland under the U.S. concept of Agile Combat Employment.

Nothing beats interoperability

"This is interoperability at its best," said Lieutenant Colonel Sören Richter, detachment commander of the German Eurofighters in Estonia. "Multinational exercises remain important for us especially during the continuing pandemic. Training together with our Allies is the best possible preparation for future missions," he added. 

"My whole team welcomes this opportunity to do meaningful realistic training and hone our skills during combined sorties with the U.S. F-15s or refuelling with their KC-135 tanker aircraft. The training during Baltic Trident enables our short-distance air-to-air fighting drills", said Richter. "However, besides partaking in this combined training, we constantly ensure our Eurofighters are available 24/7 to launch in order to secure the airspace over our three Baltic Allies," he concluded.