Estonia, US to kick off biggest ever air force exercise

Photo: AFP / Scanpix

A nearly month-long joint air force exercise of Estonia and the United States will start in the airspace of Estonia next week, which will see ground targets at the Estonian defense forces' central training ground destroyed from the air using live ammunition for he first time in the history of Estonia since the country regained its independence.

Joint training exercises of the air forces of Estonia and the United States and further developing of interoperability will be central to the exercise lasting from March 19 to April 17, military spokespeople in Tallinn said.

In addition to planned low altitude flights by combat aircraft ground targets will be destroyed with live ammunition for the first time in Estonia since the country regained its independence. The live-fire exercise using the onboard weapons of aircraft is expected to take part at the central training ground on March 24 and 25.

The spokespeople added that low altitude flights over the training area can be observed in the airspace extending from Aegviidu to Kivioli from west to east and from Tamsalu to the sea from south to north. To avoid repeat flyovers, the air force will try and disperse the routes of low altitude flights.

"I very much hope that the people of Estonia will like to hear the voice of freedom in our skies and that people will support the exercise taking place," said the commander of the Estonian air force, Col. Jaak Tarien. "The upcoming training exercise is the first step in carrying out the promise made by the allies. In addition 24.7 million dollars is earmarked in the U.S. defense budget for the years 2015-2016 to expand infrastructure at the Amari air base, which is a clear sign that our allies the United States have included presence in Estonia in their long-term plans and similar exercises will start taking place here regularly," Tarien added.

To take part in the exercise is the 510th fighter squadron of the U.S. air force that is based at the Aviano air base in Italy.

Together with F-16 fighter jets some 300 U.S. air force personnel will arrive at Amari. The Estonian air force will be responsible for reception of the U.S. equipment and crews and service by the air base. The Estonian air force will also be tasked with airspace control and a large part of forward air control.

In the course of this and further training exercises environmental surveys will be conducted at the central training ground and in its environs to chart noise levels accompanying the exercise and flyovers by combat aircraft at different altitudes and in different directions and how it depends on weather conditions. The findings of the survey will be used in the planning of further exercises.

Both the use of live ammunition and conducting of low altitude flights is consistent with Estonian laws and has been agreed with the Civil Aviation Administration.