Turkish F-16s Assume NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission in Estonia
Turkish F-16 fighter jets and personnel from the 181st Jet Squadron Command have been deployed to Estonia's Ämari Air Base as part of NATO's Baltic air policing mission. This deployment, which began on August 1, 2026, involves five F-16s and 76 personnel from the Turkish Air Force. The mission is a peacetime air defense activity under NATO's collective airspace protection framework, aimed at securing the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These countries do not operate their own fighter jets, making NATO's presence crucial for their airspace security. The Turkish contingent took over the mission from Portugal, marking the first time Turkey's air force has participated in this capacity in Estonia. The mission will run until November 30, 2026, and involves maintaining a 24/7 alert-reaction duty to respond to potential airspace violations.