A detachment of four Portuguese F-16M fighter aircraft has arrived at Ämari Air Base, Estonia, marking the commencement of Portugal’s four-month leadership of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission in the Baltic region. This deployment succeeds the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s F-35 contingent, which concluded its mission after months of airspace security operations over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The transition underscores NATO’s steadfast commitment to the security of its eastern flank, an area of increasing strategic importance amid evolving regional threats.
The Portuguese Air Force’s deployment includes approximately 90 personnel, comprising pilots, maintenance crews, and operational support teams. This marks Portugal’s first air policing rotation in Estonia, expanding its operational footprint in the Baltic region following previous contributions to Lithuania’s air defense since 2007. The deployment was formally initiated at Air Base Number 5 in Monte Real, Portugal, where Air Commander Lieutenant General Sérgio Pereira emphasized the professionalism and national commitment of the Portuguese forces assigned to the mission.
The Dutch Air Force’s preceding rotation saw the F-35s demonstrate advanced operational capabilities, including participation in Agile Combat Employment (ACE) drills with Estonian Air Force personnel and a multi-domain “Find, Fix, Track, and Trace” mission. These exercises showcased the F-35’s sensor fusion, stealth capabilities, and interoperability within NATO’s integrated air defense network. The completion of Ämari’s runway refurbishment prior to the Dutch deployment further reinforced the base’s strategic role as a forward operating location for NATO air assets.
The Portuguese F-16M, though lacking the stealth and networked warfare capabilities of the F-35, remains a highly capable multirole platform. Upgraded under mid-life modernization programs, Portugal’s F-16s incorporate advanced avionics and weapon systems suited for rapid-response air policing operations. While not optimized for fifth-generation warfare, the F-16M retains the speed, maneuverability, and cost-effective operational profile necessary for the deterrence and interception tasks integral to the Baltic mission.
NATO officials affirm that the transition from F-35s to F-16s does not degrade mission effectiveness, given the alliance’s well-established rotational framework and interoperability protocols. The Baltic Air Policing (BAP) initiative, operational since 2004, has seen allied nations cyclically deploy fighter detachments to maintain air sovereignty over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania—all of which lack indigenous fast-jet capability. The mission’s significance has grown in the wake of Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, with subsequent force posture adjustments reinforcing NATO’s deterrence efforts along its eastern periphery.
The current Portuguese deployment, while maintaining a lean force structure, remains well-integrated within NATO’s broader strategic framework. The F-16s will execute standard air policing operations, including identification and interception of unresponsive or unauthorized aircraft within the Baltic airspace. These missions, though typically conducted in peacetime conditions, are essential for maintaining regional air security amid periodic Russian aerial incursions.
As the Dutch contingent redeploys to Leeuwarden Air Base, Netherlands, its next operational focus will be participation in the NATO-led Ramstein Flag 25 exercise. Scheduled from March 31 to April 11, the multinational drill will involve over 90 aircraft from 15 allied nations, providing an opportunity to refine complex tactical scenarios, rapid deployment procedures, and integrated air combat operations.
Strategically, the Portuguese F-16 rotation at Ämari serves as both a practical air policing effort and a geopolitical signal of NATO’s enduring vigilance in the region. While the F-35 represents the future of allied airpower, legacy platforms like the F-16 continue to provide cost-effective, reliable force projection capabilities in missions where stealth and fifth-generation capabilities are not the primary operational requirements. This deployment reinforces NATO’s commitment to scalable deterrence, ensuring the Baltic airspace remains under allied control while preparing for the next evolution of air defense strategy in the region.
