Ämari Air Base

Ämari Air Base [note 1] (ICAO: EEEI) is a military airbase in Harjumaa, Estonia located 7 km (4.3 mi) south of Lake Klooga and 20 nautical miles (37 km; 23 mi) southwest of Tallinn.[1] The length of the runway does not include a 250 m (820 ft) overrun at each end.

Ämari Air Base
Insignia of the Ämari Air Base
Summary
Airport typeMilitary
OperatorEstonian Air Force, NATO
ServesKeila
Elevation AMSL68 ft / 21 m
Coordinates59°15′44″N 024°13′07″E
Map
EEEI
Location in Estonia
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
06/24 2,750 9,022 Asphalt/Concrete
Sources: Estonian AIP[1]

History

In Soviet times, Ämari was home to 321 and/or 170 MShAP (321st and/or 170th Naval Shturmovik Aviation Regiment) flying Su-24 aircraft.[2]

Estonian Air Force Air Surveillance Wing was created on 1 January 1998 and is located at the Ämari Air Base.

After Estonia's accession to NATO in 2004, Ämari Air Base was made NATO interoperable. In September 2010, the renewed runway was officially inaugurated.

Current use
A-10's of Michigan Air National Guard at Ämari Air Base in 2012.

Since April 2014, Ämari Air Base has hosted NATO Baltic Air Policing patrols.[3] On 30 April 2014 this mission began with the arrival of four Danish F-16s.[4]

During 2015 it was announced that the aerial assets from the American Operation Atlantic Resolve would be based there.[5]

In September 2015, Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighters visited Ämari.[6]

Notes
  1. Also given in references as Suurküla (original Estonian name), Vasalemma, Emari, Suurkyul, Shuurkyul, and Shuurkul - last forms of the Estonian names are derivates of names Russian-speaking military personnel used when it was used by the Soviet military."

References
  1. "eAIP Estonia". Estonian Air Navigation Services (ANS). Retrieved 2016-07-27.
  2. "Aviatsiya VMF". Aviabaza KPOI.
  3. "Augmenting Baltic Air Policing Nations hand over responsibility". NATO. 2016.
  4. "NATO opens an air base in Estonia". estonianworld.com. 2 May 2014. Retrieved 2 May 2014.
  5. AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. November 2015. p. 15.
  6. Glorious photos of US F-22 fighter jets arriving in Russia's backyard in Business Insider, published September 2015


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