Ämari Air Base

History

Ämari Air Base was built between 1940–1952 under an agreement signed by the Estonian SSR and the Soviet Union. In 1945, the USSR Ministry of Defense established a naval reserve airfield of its Baltic Fleet there, where the amphibious seaplanes of the 69th Long-Range Reconnaissance Regiment Catalina PBY-5A and the escort fighters Yak-9P began to be based. It became the main base for the units located in Ämari in 1952.

In November 1967, the 88th Aviation Regiment of Fighter-Bombers was formed at the airfield, remaining until August 1984, after which it was relocated to Kanatovo airfield, at Kirovograd, Ukraine. From 1967 to 1973 the regiment flew the MiG-17, from 1970 to 1980 - the MiG-21PFM, and since 1980 - the MiG-27D (K).

In 1977, the 321st fighter-bomber aviation regiment was formed at the airfield. The regiment operated Su-7B aircraft. In 1987, the regiment was retrained on the Su-24 and transferred to the 132nd Bomber Aviation Division. In 1994, the regiment was disbanded at the airfield.

During the Vietnam War the base was a training facility for Soviet pilots to fly MiG-15, MiG-15bis, Mig-17 and MiG-19 aircraft before deployment to North Vietnam as "Military advisor pilots" and deployment to Arab countries during the wars against Israel. After 1975, the units replaced their obsolete MiGs for Sukhoi planes. Later, Ämari was home to 321 and/or 170 MShAP (321st and/or 170th Naval Shturmovik Aviation Regiment) flying Su-24 aircraft. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Russian Air Force continued to administer the base until it was handed over to Estonia in 1996.

The Estonian Air Force Air Surveillance Wing was created in January 1998 and is located at the base.

After Estonia's accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in 2004, the base was made NATO interoperable. NATO aircraft have been stationed at the base since 2014.

Current use

Since April 2014, the base has hosted NATO Baltic Air Policing patrols. On 30 April 2014 this mission began with the arrival of four Royal Danish Air Force F-16s.

During 2015 it was announced that the aerial assets from the American Operation Atlantic Resolve would be based there.

In September 2015, Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighters visited Ämari.

As of 2017, the US has invested over 32 million dollar into Ämari after the occupation of Crimea in 2014, with 13.9 million dollar to be invested in 2018.

From April 2023, RAF Eurofighter Typhoon jets of IX Squadron were based at Ämari, as part of the Quick Reaction Force for Operation Azotize, Nato's Baltic Air Policing mission, replacing the Luftwaffe's Taktisches Luftwaffengeschwader 71 "Richthofen" squadron (Typhoon).

Ämari Airbase was renovated in 2024 at a cost of €18.5 million, €12 million of which was contributed by Luxembourg.

During the renovations, the Baltic Air Policing mission was temporarily stationed at Lielvārde in Latvia.

References and notes

;References ;Notes

References

1. "eAIP Estonia". [[Estonian Air Navigation Services]] (ANS).
2. Michael Holm. (2016). "321st Bomber Aviation Regiment". The Luftwaffe, 1933-45.
3. "Aviatsiya VMF". Aviabaza KPOI..
4. "Estonia". Central Intelligence Agency.
5. (2016). "Augmenting Baltic Air Policing Nations hand over responsibility". [[NATO]].
6. (2 May 2014). "NATO opens an air base in Estonia".
7. (November 2015). "[[AirForces Monthly]]". [[Key Publishing.
8. [http://www.businessinsider.com/glorious-photos-of-us-f-22-fighter-jets-arriving-in-russias-backyard-2015-9 Glorious photos of US F-22 fighter jets arriving in Russia's backyard] in Business Insider, published September 2015
9. Aili Vahtla. (19 December 2017). "US to invest nearly $14 million in Ämari Air Base".
10. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65673272 Ukraine war: Nato watches Russian 'Zombies' in Estonia], Frank Gardner, [[BBC Online]], 2023-05-23
11. (8 November 2024). "Gallery: Ämari Air Base's runway reopens".
12. (18 January 2024). "Ämari Air Base to be closed for renovation through to autumn".
13. (31 January 2024). "Luxembourg contributes €12 million to Estonia's Ämari Air Base renovation".
14. "Latvia Prepares Nato Baltic Air Policing Take-over".