Dutch F-35As intercept three Russian aircraft during Baltic Air Policing scramble
December 10, 2024
On 2 December, NATO’s Allied Air Command confirmed the arrival of four Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) F-35As at Estonia’s Ämari air base as part of NATO’s Baltic Air policing mission. The deployment at Ämari augments a separate detachment at Siauliai in Lithuania, currently manned by French Dassault Rafales and Italian Eurofighter Typhoons.
The F-35As arrived at Amari three weeks after the completion of an eight-month €16.5 million renovation of the base that included resurfacing the main runway, taxiways and aprons, funded by Luxembourg and Estonia.
During the ‘break’ in the NATO fighter presence at Ämari some air defence ‘cover’ was provided by Spanish NASAMS medium-range air defence missile systems. The Spanish forces were participating in a training mission with their NASAMS system, which were integrated into the Estonian 1st Brigade’s air defence unit at Tapa. Estonia is expected to receive medium-range air defence systems next year.
NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission is regularly ‘tested’ by Russian aircraft, who routinely fly without transponders, flight plans, or contacting ATC authorities, and who frequently breach NATO airspace ‘cutting the corner’ when operating in and out of Russia’s Kaliningrad enclave.
On 9 December two RNLAF F-35As were scrambled from quick reaction alert in response to unidentified aircraft approaching NATO airspace. These proved to be an Antonov An-72 ‘Coaler’ transport and a Sukhoi Su-24MR ‘Fencer-E’ ELINT aircraft. Later that day, another scramble was undertaken to intercept an Ilyushin Il-20 ‘Coot-A’ electronic surveillance aircraft.
The Dutch MoD commented that: “The quick reaction alert was activated twice. In the first flight, two aircraft were identified: a transport aircraft of the type AN-73/74 COALER and a SU-24MR Fencer E. This is a reconnaissance aircraft that collects electronic intelligence. In the afternoon, the QRA was activated again. This time, it turned out to be an IL-20 Coot A spy plane.”
Both intercepts were made over international waters, and the Dutch F-35s escorted the Russian aircraft “to the border of the NATO area of responsibility.”
Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans said, “This is why our people are there: to protect our collective airspace against Russian threats. As was once again evident on Friday, Russian forces are active in various ways near NATO airspace. Our allies in the Baltic states are pleased with our efforts. I am proud of our people who were able to immediately demonstrate their value to our security.”
Estonian defence minister Hanno Pevkur has said that Tallinn is delighted to host allied forces as part of “various exercises, NATO’s rotational air defence model or air policing.”
