Largest fleet of F‑35A jets deployed at Estonia's ämari base
The NATO Baltic Air Policing mission has once again been stationed at the Ämari airbase in Estonia, where it now hosts the largest F-35A aircraft in its history as part of ongoing exercises.
Through its channel on X (formerly known as Twitter), NATO shared photos from the interoperability exercises at the recently upgraded Ämari airbase. The images featured the currently stationed Dutch contingent, which includes four F-35A aircraft, prepared for the potential arrival of additional aircraft.
The subsequent photos showcase exercises during the arrival of four more Dutch F-35A aircraft from the Leeuwarden airbase. This increased the total number of F-35A aircraft at the Ämari airbase to eight, marking a record number of these machines serving at the Estonian facility.
F-35A - the modern successor to the aging F-16
The F-35A Lightning II is a cutting-edge multirole aircraft designed with technology that minimizes radar detection. Initially, it was conceived as a strike aircraft intended to complement the F-22 Raptor, which focuses on air superiority. However, the F-35A has evolved over time into a more versatile aircraft.
One of the primary advantages of the F-35A, besides its stealth characteristics that make radar detection difficult, is its advanced sensor suite. This includes the AN/APG-81 radar or its more modern version, the AN/APG-85, featuring an active electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna.
The aircraft is also equipped with the AN/AAQ-37 EODAS system, which uses six infrared sensors to provide a thermal image of objects. This ensures comprehensive 360-degree observation capabilities, including the detection of fully passive missile launches. This allows for the detection and targeting of threats, even if they are positioned behind the aircraft.
