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Nov 8 2024

Reopened Ämari Air Base provides NATO with modernized key infrastructure

ÄMARI, Estonia - On November 8, 2024 Estonia marked the official reopening of Ämari Air Base after completing a major renovation of the aircraft operating surfaces upgrading the base capabilities and enhancing the support Estonia provides to NATO’s Air Policing mission in the region.

NATO requires well equipped and maintained air bases that member Nations host to execute collective deterrence and defence missions protecting Alliance populations and territories

With the successful and timely conclusion of the extensive runway repair project, Estonia – supported by Luxembourg and NATO – has demonstrated its continued support and commitment to collective deterrence and defence. The project has been pre-financed by Estonia (6.5 million EUR) and Luxembourg (12 million EUR) and its total costs of 18.5 million EUR are subject to reimbursement by common NATO funding. 


With the successful and timely conclusion of the  extensive runway repair project, Estonia – supported by Luxembourg and NATO – has demonstrated its continued support and commitment to collective deterrence and defence. Photo by Estonian Defence Forces.

“After eight months of runway upgrade works, Ämari Air Base is now fully available again for NATO Air Policing; I congratulate Estonia on these tremendous efforts and achievements,” said Lieutenant General Thorsten Poschwatta, Commander of NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem, Germany. Photo by Estonian Defence Forces.

On December 1, NATO Air Policing operations will resume at Ämari with Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35s taking to the skies from the base. Archive photo courtesy Royal Netherlands Air Force.

Estonia marked the official reopening of Ämari Air Base after completing a major renovation of the aircraft operating surfaces upgrading the base capabilities and enhancing the support Estonia provides to NATO’s Air Policing mission in the region. Photo by Estonian Defence Forces.
Executed under the supervision of the Estonian Defence Investment Centre, the project comprised milling and overlaying approx. 275,000 m2 of aircraft operating surfaces – runway, four existing taxiways and aprons –as well as renovation of parts of the airfield drainage system and replacing of runway and taxiway marking.

“Air defence is extremely important on NATO’s eastern flank, and I am glad that – with the help of Luxembourg – we have been able to significantly improve the quality of Ämari Air Base,” said Estonia’s Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur. “This enables us to better support and service both our own and Allied aircraft, and most importantly, to bring the Baltic Air Policing mission back to Estonia,” he concluded.

“After eight months of runway upgrade works here at Ämari, the base is now fully available again for NATO Air Policing,” said NATO and Allied Air Command representative Lieutenant General Thorsten Poschwatta, Commander of NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem, Germany, during his remarks. ”I congratulate Estonia on these tremendous efforts and achievements,” he added.

General Poschwatta continued to refer to the strategic significance of Ämari Air Base to the Alliance as the second base for Baltic Air Policing, which since 2014 has been an integral part of NATO’s response to the changed security environment. Being one of Estonia’s major contributions to NATO collective defence, Ämari has consecutively hosted ten Allied fighter detachments making it a symbol for Alliance cohesion, readiness and solidarity.

NATO requires well equipped and maintained air bases that member Nations host to execute collective deterrence and defence missions protecting Alliance populations and territories. The flight line at Ämari Air Base is a key operational infrastructure component, and the refurbished runway and taxiways enable NATO and the Allies to continue ensuring collective security in the Baltic Sea region. Ämari Air Base plays a vital role in NATO’s operational infrastructure in the Baltic Region.

On December 1, NATO Air Policing operations will resume at Ämari with Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35s taking to the skies from the base. These fifth-generation fighter aircraft will be the first Allied jets to operate from the refurbished and upgraded air base in a demonstration of Allied solidarity, commitment and cooperation.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office

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