The Italian Air Drive deployed 4 F-35A Lightning II to Ämari Air Base in Estonia, main NATO’s newest Baltic Air Policing mission.
The Italian Air Drive deployed 4 F-35A Lightning IIs to Ämari Air Base in Estonia. This marked the start of a crucial rotation for NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, and the second time Italy despatched its fifth-generation fighters to protect the skies over the Baltic Area.
A handover ceremony on Aug. 1, 2025, marked the formal switch of accountability from the Portuguese Air Drive to the Italian Air Drive, formally launching Operation Baltic Eagle III. For the following 4 months, Italian F-35As will safeguard the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, working below NATO command and on Fast Response Alert (QRA) standing. The Italian nationwide contingent is below the command of Colonel Gaetano Farina, a seasoned officer and former commander of the Italian Air Drive’s Nationwide Aerobatic Crew, the Frecce Tricolori.
For the primary time two 🇮🇹 F-35s scramble from 🇪🇪 in response to 🇷🇺 plane below NATO’s Air Policing mission
The 🇮🇹 Activity Drive Air – thirty second Wing detachment at Ämari Air Base 🇪🇪 are on Fast Response Alert 24/7 demonstrating the Alliance’s dedication to safeguarding NATO airspace pic.twitter.com/pnM0CRowo1
— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) August 13, 2025
Shortly after assuming the mission, on Aug. 13, the Italian detachment efficiently carried out the primary Alpha Scramble in response to unidentified plane approaching NATO airspace. The F-35s launched quickly from Ämari, intercepted, and carried out visible identification of the plane, demonstrating each their readiness and the strategic worth of fifth-generation capabilities in securing the Alliance’s japanese flank.
The scramble was triggered by the detection of a number of Russian plane, together with a Su-24MR Fencer-E and a Su-33 Flanker-D. Particularly, the plane had been recognized because the Su-24MR serial RF-33780 with bort quantity 33 white assigned to the Russian Navy’s Baltic Fleet’s 4th Combined Aviation Regiment (SAP) and the Su-33 serial RF-33701 with bort quantity 79 purple belonging to the Russian Navy’s Northern Fleet 279th Unbiased Shipborne Fighter Aviation Regiment (OKIAP).
Though the standard of the picture will not be ideally suited, the Su-33 may be visually recognized thanks the distinctive “Siberian Tiger” tail marking, an emblem distinctive to the 279th OKIAP, and its livery. Nevertheless, it may be famous on each the Su-33 and Su-24 that the Russian Navy’s flag has been eliminated, which factors to the potential for the 2 models being transferred from the Navy to the Air Drive, as occurred final yr to the 689th Guards Fighter Aviation Regiment, outfitted with Su-27s.
Activity Drive Air – thirty second Wing to Take part in Baltic Eagle III
The 4 Italian F-35A plane arrived at Ämari Air Base on Jul. 25, 2025. Their deployment was publicly trackable on aviation monitoring web sites corresponding to AirNav RadarBox, the place fans and analysts may observe the deliberate transit and arrival of the plane.
The unit presently deployed to Ämari Air Base in Estonia is designated as Activity Drive Air – thirty second Wing. It includes plane and mission-essential personnel drawn from the thirty second Wing, stationed at Amendola Air Base, in addition to a help and operations contingent from the sixth Wing, primarily based at Ghedi Air Base.
Working below the tactical management of NATO’s Mixed Air Operations Centre (CAOC) Uedem, Activity Drive Air – thirty second Wing is accountable for executing Baltic Air Policing (BAP) missions, sustaining 24/7 readiness to launch intercepts, establish unidentified plane, and make sure the integrity of Allied airspace alongside NATO’s japanese flank.
On 1 August, a ceremonial handover of the Baltic Air Policing mission happened at Ämari Air Base. The Portuguese Air Drive formally transferred the mission to the Italian Air Drive. Italy will now safeguarding the Baltic area’s airspace with their F-35 fighter jets. pic.twitter.com/FLsVTscbBq
— Estonian Defence Forces | Eesti Kaitsevägi (@Kaitsevagi) August 6, 2025
Past Air Policing, the Activity Drive commonly conducts every day coaching actions throughout the Baltic area to keep up operational readiness and tactical proficiency. These embody complicated missions corresponding to joint workout routines with floor forces, and interoperability drills alongside different NATO allies. In earlier Italian deployments, CAS (Shut Air Help) missions had been additionally carried out utilizing accessible coaching areas just like the Tapa Vary in Estonia.
A few of the abovementioned missions may be passively tracked by aviation observers via platforms like AirNav RadarBox. Coaching sorties typically use the callsign “GHOSTxx”, whereas plane assigned to NATO’s Fast Response Alert (QRA) position at Ämari Air Base function below the usual callsign “EIxx”. Whereas flight monitoring information is proscribed as a result of operational safety, using these identifiers presents a glimpse into the day-to-day exercise and excessive readiness posture maintained by the Italian detachment.
What’s the NATO Air Policing Mission?
As a defensive alliance, NATO stays firmly dedicated to defending the airspace of its member nations in opposition to potential aerial threats. This accountability is fulfilled via the NATO Air Policing mission, which operates 24 hours a day, one year a yr.
Initially established in 1961 throughout the Chilly Warfare, the mission has advanced to fulfill the calls for of the trendy safety surroundings. Right now, it’s supported by the NATO Built-in Air and Missile Protection System (NATINAMDS), a complete, layered community that brings collectively radar sensors, plane, and missile protection programs to guard NATO territory each in occasions of peace and through crises or battle.
On the coronary heart of NATO’s Air Policing construction is the Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), primarily based in Ramstein, Germany. AIRCOM supplies general command and management of the mission, directing operations via two Mixed Air Operations Facilities (CAOCs):
CAOC Uedem in Germany, which oversees the airspace over Northern Europe.
CAOC Torrejón in Spain, accountable for the skies over Southern Europe, together with the Mediterranean area.
These facilities work in shut coordination with Management and Reporting Facilities (CRCs) and Fast Response Alert (QRA) models, making certain that NATO forces are at all times able to detect, establish, and if mandatory, intercept unidentified or probably hostile plane.
As a result of not all NATO members have the assets to conduct Air Policing on their very own, the Alliance depends on a spirit of collective help. Member nations with appropriate air property commonly contribute to Air Policing missions in areas the place Allies lack the potential, both by deploying nationally or as a part of multinational detachments.
Understanding the Baltic Air Policing Mission
Baltic Air Policing (BAP) is a NATO mission devoted to safeguarding the airspace over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, three nations that joined the Alliance in 2004. Since these nations should not have their very own air fight fleets, NATO established BAP as a steady rotational deployment to make sure their skies stay safe always.
Underneath this mission, NATO allies take turns sending fighter jets and help personnel to the area for rotations lasting about 4 months. These forces function primarily from two predominant bases: Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania and Ämari Air Base in Estonia. The deployed plane are positioned on Fast Response Alert (QRA), standing able to launch inside minutes to intercept, establish, or escort any unknown or unauthorized plane approaching Baltic airspace. This presence serves not solely as a deterrent but additionally as a tangible demonstration of NATO’s dedication to the protection of its japanese members.
A crucial element supporting BAP is BALTNET, the Baltic Air Surveillance Community. Operated collectively by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, BALTNET hyperlinks radar stations and Management and Reporting Facilities (CRCs) throughout the three nations. This community allows fast sharing of radar information, offering a transparent, real-time image of all air exercise throughout the area.
BALTNET’s predominant CRCs embody CRC Tallinn, Callsign “Lighthouse,” situated in Estonia; CRC Lielvārde, Callsign “Amberland,” situated in Latvia; and CRC Karmėlava, Callsign “Galaxy,” situated in Lithuania. These centres function 24/7, monitoring and figuring out plane to detect any uncommon or probably threatening exercise as early as attainable.
Because the Baltic States have restricted air protection assets on their very own, BALTNET performs a significant position in enabling NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission. By repeatedly sharing surveillance data and coordinating with NATO’s command buildings, together with the Mixed Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Uedem, Germany, BALTNET ensures fighter jets may be scrambled rapidly and successfully when wanted. This shut cooperation strengthens the collective protection of the area and types an important a part of NATO’s Built-in Air and Missile Protection System (NATINAMDS), conserving the Baltic skies protected 24/7.
The Stream of an Air Interception
When suspicious exercise is detected, the NATO Mixed Air Operations Centre (CAOC) could determine to research by scrambling armed fighter jets. These plane are saved on Fast Response Alert (QRA) standing at over 32 NATO airbases throughout the Alliance. Relying on the urgency, the jets may be airborne inside quarter-hour or much less.
As soon as within the air, QRA pilots are guided by controllers on the nearest Management and Reporting Centre (CRC) to intercept and visually establish the plane in query. Throughout these missions, pilots face a spread of situations—from overseas army plane coming into NATO airspace with out authorization to civilian planes experiencing emergencies.
After finishing the mission, the fighters return to their base, prepared to reply once more if wanted. Nevertheless, generally it may additionally occur that the plane are retasked whereas infight for a second intercept, and a number of identifications are carried out throughout the identical scramble.
