Four Lockheed Martin F-35A stealth fighters from the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) have been deployed to Estonia’s Amari Air Base for NATO’s air policing mission near the Russian border. The jets arrived on December 2 after an eight-month renovation of the base, enhancing its operational capacity. RNLAF Lieutenant Colonel Pascal Smaal stated that the fifth-generation fighters are ready to provide round-the-clock air surveillance and defense for NATO allies. Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur welcomed the deployment, highlighting the importance of NATO’s rotational air defense model for regional security. This mission underscores NATO’s commitment to protecting its eastern flank.
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