Turkey Deploys F-16s to Estonia for NATO's Baltic Air Policing Mission
Turkey is set to deploy five F-16 fighter jets and 76 military personnel to Ämari Air Base in Estonia as part of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission. This deployment, scheduled from August to November, will replace the Portuguese contingent currently stationed there. The Turkish contingent, drawn from the 181st Jet Squadron, will maintain round-the-clock Quick Reaction Alert duties to handle potential airspace violations in the Baltic region. This mission is part of NATO's ongoing efforts to safeguard the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, which do not operate their own fighter aviation units. The deployment is conducted under the Baltic Air Policing framework, which has been in place since 2004 following the accession of the Baltic states to NATO.