Estse luchtmacht
The Estonian Air Force (Õhuvägi) was born on 21 November 1918, fought the War of Independence with captured aircraft, peaked at 77 aircraft in 1932, stayed in its hangars when the Soviet Union occupied Estonia in 1940, and was rebuilt from nothing after 1991 — and in 2026 it still owns no fighters, flies two small transports, and does its real work with radars, a new IRIS-T SLM missile unit and Ämari Air Base, from which allied NATO jets have guarded Estonian skies since 2014.
The Estonian Air Force story: war trophies in 1918, silence in 1940 and allied jets at Ämari
1918–1920: an air arm built from war trophies
Estonia’s air force is older than most of its state institutions. On 21 November 1918, a week before the Red Army attacked, an air half-company was formed in the Engineer Battalion; the officer given the job was August Roos. It began without aircraft. The first came from the enemy: a French-built Farman HF.30 captured from the Soviets, which flew the unit’s first combat sortie on 15 February 1919, according to the Defence Forces’ history. By 22 February 1919 the Defence Forces count 40 aircraft, 28 of them serviceable, and 476 people. Abandoned German machines and more trophies followed, and by the end of the war in 1920 Estonia had 44 aircraft, fewer than half of them airworthy. The good news was improvisation that worked; the bad news was a fleet of worn, mismatched types with no spares, which shaped the next twenty years.
1920–1940: 77 aircraft at the peak, and silence in June 1940
After the Treaty of Tartu the aviation company became an Aviation Regiment with land and seaplane squadrons, a flying school and workshops. From 1920 the air arm was based at Tallinn, Tartu and later Rakvere, with Lasnamäe in Tallinn as the main field. On 1 December 1924 communist insurgents briefly seized Lasnamäe and hijacked two aircraft; one reached the Soviet Union. The Air Defence Staff was created on 4 October 1930. Strength peaked in 1932 at 77 reasonably modern aircraft, bought from Britain, France and Germany: Bristol Bulldog fighters, eight Hawker Harts built for Estonia, Potez 25s and later Avro Ansons. Late orders from Germany and Britain mostly never arrived. When Soviet forces invaded on 17 June 1940 the air force took no action and its aircraft stayed locked in their hangars. That summer it became the aviation squadron of the Red Army’s 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps.
1940–1991: Estonian airmen under two foreign flags
For half a century there was no Estonian air force, but there were Estonian airmen. The Defence Forces’ history records that when Germany invaded in 1941 many hid in the forests rather than evacuate east, and some died fighting NKVD units. In German service they were at first forbidden to fly; in February 1942 the first all-Estonian flight was formed, and Estonian crews flew maritime patrol over the Gulf of Finland with Seeaufklärungsgruppe 127. A flying school at Liepāja trained Estonians and Latvians from 1943, and a night group of about 45 aircraft flew over Estonia in the summer of 1944 before evacuating in September. About 3,000 Estonians served in Luftwaffe auxiliary air defence. On the Soviet side the 87th Independent Night Bombing Squadron "Tasuja" flew U-2 biplanes with the 8th Estonian Rifle Corps until 1946. Meanwhile Soviet regiments turned Ämari, Tartu (Raadi) and Pärnu into jet and bomber bases.
1991–2004: starting again with gifts and a Soviet bomber base
The Defence Forces date the air force’s return to 16 December 1991, when the General Staff created a post for an aviation specialist. Colonel Vello Loemaa became the first commander on 7 February 1994 and the Air Force Headquarters was formed on 13 April 1994. Everything was donated or improvised: two Let L-410UVP transports from Germany in February 1993, three Mi-2 helicopters in October 1994 and four Mi-8s in November 1995. The air force moved into Ämari, a former Soviet Su-24 base south-west of Tallinn, and on 15 May 1997 the Air Base was formally established; that year it held two An-2s, three Mi-2s, a Wilga 35A and five gliders. The Air Surveillance Wing followed on 1 January 1998, starting with Soviet P-37 radars. The choice made then still defines the service: money went into radars and an air operations centre, not fighters, on the bet that NATO would supply the jets.
2004–2024: Ämari becomes a NATO base
The bet paid off. Estonia joined NATO on 29 March 2004 and allied fighters began policing the Baltic skies from Šiauliai in Lithuania the same day. Ämari was rebuilt from 2008 to 2012, with a new runway opening in the autumn of 2010, and the United States put more than $32 million into its apron and fuel facilities by 2017. After Russia seized Crimea, four Danish F-16s landed at Ämari on 30 April 2014 and a NATO quick reaction alert detachment has been based there since 1 May 2014. The Estonian air force itself stayed small: Robinson R44 helicopters from 2002, leased L-39 jets for training controllers from 2006, a TPS-77 radar at Kellavere in 2003 and Ground Master 403 radars in 2013 and 2015. Two C-145A Skytrucks donated by the United States arrived from March 2019. The weakness is plain: Estonia cannot intercept anything by itself.
2025–2026: MiG-31s over Vaindloo, drones, and a missile unit at last
The last two years brought the threat to the runway’s edge. Ämari closed from March to November 2024 for an €18.5 million renovation, €12 million of it paid by Luxembourg, and the last R44s and An-2s were retired in December 2024. On 19 September 2025 three Russian MiG-31s flew into Estonian airspace near Vaindloo for about 12 minutes without flight plans or transponders; Italian F-35s from Ämari escorted them out, Estonia called NATO Article 4 consultations, and Russia denied that the jets had left neutral airspace. In November 2025 the air force launched an operation to disperse radars and air defence units against drones, and on 19 May 2026 a Romanian F-16 shot down a stray drone over central Estonia. The first IRIS-T SLM unit arrived on 22 June 2026, and on 1 August 2026 NATO’s Baltic Air Policing became a Baltic Air Defence mission. The debate about whether Estonia should lease fighters of its own is open; the government has not decided to.
The Estonian Air Force in numbers
Dienst
- Inheemse naam
- ÕhuvägiThe spelling used on the Defence Forces’ Estonian-language site; Wikipedia gives the longer form Eesti Õhuvägi. Estonian is the country’s only official language
- Opgericht
- 21 November 1918An air half-company of the Engineer Battalion; re-established on 16 December 1991 after the restoration of independence. The Defence Forces count 50 years of interruption from 1940
- Onderdeel van
- Estonian Defence Forces (Kaitsevägi)Alongside the land forces and the navy, under the Commander of the Defence Forces, Lt Gen. Andrus Merilo (since 1 July 2024)
- Hoofdkwartier
- TallinnJuhkentali 58, shared with the Defence Forces’ Joint Headquarters; the only air base is Ämari, about 40 km south-west of Tallinn
- Commandant
- Brig. Gen. Riivo ValgeSince mid-2025 (July per the Defence Forces, 18 June per Wikipedia); also commanded 2018–2019
- Minister van Defensie
- Hanno PevkurNamed as minister in the Defence Forces’ releases of 2024–2026
Kracht
- Personeel
- About 400Wikipedia’s figure for 2024; the Defence Forces do not publish an air force total. Conscripts began training on IRIS-T in July 2026
- Vliegtuig
-
- M28 (C-145A) Skytruck — 2, donated by the United States
- Aero L-39C Albatros — 2, leased
No combat aircraft. The two L-39s are leased from a private company, Aerohooldus OÜ, to train joint terminal attack controllers (JTACs)
- Fighter cover
- NAVO-bondgenotenAllied fighters on quick reaction alert at Ämari since 1 May 2014 and at Šiauliai since 2004; from 1 August 2026 the mission is called Baltic Air Defence
- Grondgebonden luchtverdediging
- IRIS-T SLM — 1 of 3 firing unitsAir Defence Wing formed 1 July 2023 at Ämari; first unit delivered 22 June 2026, the other two due in 2027. Bought jointly with Latvia
- Radars
- Five military radar sitesIncluding a TPS-77 at Kellavere (2003) and Ground Master 403s at Muhu (2013) and Tõikamäe near Otepää (2015); the Control and Reporting Centre is at Ämari
- Defensiebudget
- €2.4 billion (2026)5.4 per cent of GDP, up from €1.3 billion and 3.21 per cent in 2024; at least 5 per cent planned for 2027–2029. This is the whole defence budget, not the air force’s share
Infrastructuur
- Luchtbases
- Ämari (EEEI)The only air base in Estonia: 2,750 m runway, rebuilt 2008–2012 and resurfaced in 2024
- Allied rotations at Ämari
- Since 30 April 2014At least twelve NATO air forces have rotated through, from Denmark’s F-16s in 2014 to Turkey’s F-16s in 2026
- Control and reporting
- Ämari CRCPlus an Estonian detachment at the combined CRC at Karmelava, Lithuania (BALTNET)
- Temporary base
- Pärnu (2024)Estonian Air Force aircraft moved to the civil airport at Pärnu while Ämari was closed from March to November 2024
- Interwar bases
-
- Tallinn (Lasnamäe) — main base to 1940
- Tartu — to 1940
- Rakvere — to 1940
The main base was in Tallinn; the three units sat at Tallinn, Tartu and Rakvere. Exact sites other than Lasnamäe were not confirmed
How the Estonian Air Force is organised
A headquarters in Tallinn over three units, all at Ämari: the Air Base with the air force’s only flying squadron, the Air Surveillance Wing and the Air Defence Wing. Estonia owns no fighters and, since December 2024, no helicopters; its real work is radar, air control and ground-based air defence, while allied NATO fighters on quick reaction alert at Ämari guard its sky. Estonian personnel also serve at the combined BALTNET control centre at Karmelava in Lithuania.
Hoofdkwartier van de luchtmacht
In Tallinn, sharing the Defence Forces’ Joint Headquarters at Juhkentali 58; one of three services under the Commander of the Defence Forces, Lt Gen. Andrus Merilo. Brig. Gen. Riivo Valge has commanded since mid-2025, his second spell after 2018–2019.
Ämari Air Base
Estonia’s only air base, an air force unit since 15 May 1997 on a former Soviet Su-24 field. Its 1st Air Squadron, the air force’s only flying unit, has two M28 transports and two leased L-39s for JTAC training; the last helicopters and An-2s were retired in December 2024.
Air Surveillance Wing
Formed on 1 January 1998. Five military radar sites feed the Control and Reporting Centre at Ämari, which builds the air picture and controls NATO fighters over Estonia; a detachment serves at the combined BALTNET centre at Karmelava in Lithuania.
Luchtverdedigingsvleugel
Formed on 1 July 2023. The first of three IRIS-T SLM firing units, bought jointly with Latvia, arrived on 22 June 2026 and the other two are due in 2027; conscripts began training on the system in July 2026.
What the Estonian Air Force flies today
Elk type is gekoppeld aan de bijbehorende pagina in het Boek der Beesten, indien aanwezig. Het aantal vliegtuigen betreft de geregistreerde vliegtuigen, niet de vliegtuigen die op een bepaalde dag beschikbaar zijn.
| Type | Rol | In dienst | Sinds | Eenheden | Notities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PZL Mielec M28 Skytruck (C-145A)In dienst | Light transport, parachuting and maritime surveillance | 2 | 2019 | Two ex-US Air Force C-145As donated by the United States; the first arrived in March 2019. | ||
| Aero L-39C AlbatrosIn dienst | Jet trainer (leased) | 2 | 2006 | Two, leased from Aerohooldus OÜ rather than owned. |
Op bestelling
| Type | Besteld | Eerste levering | Notities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diehl Defence IRIS-T SLM (ground-based air defence)Op bestelling | 2 | 2026 | Three firing units bought through the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments in a joint procurement with Latvia agreed in autumn 2023; the first arrived at Ämari on 22 June 2026 and the other two are due in 2027.
MeerRange about 40 km, ceiling up to 20 km. Not an aircraft: listed here because it is the air force’s main new weapon. |
Every type the Estonian Air Force has retired
11 types, from the Farman HF.30 to the Robinson R44. De piekcijfers hebben betrekking op het aantal vliegtuigen dat gedurende de gehele levensduur in gebruik is genomen, niet op de vlootsterkte op een bepaalde datum.
| Type | Rol | Piek | Geserveerd | Vervangen door | Notities | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Robinson R44 | Lichte helikopter | 2002–2024 | ||||
| Antonov An-2 | Licht transport | 2 | M28 | Two at Ämari in 1997. | ||
| Avro Anson | Multipurpose and reconnaissance | |||||
| Hawker Hart (Estonian export version) | Lichte bommenwerper en verkenningsvliegtuig | 8 | Eight built for Estonia. | |||
| Bristol Bulldog | Vechter | |||||
| Potez 25 (Jupiter-engined) | Verkennings- en lichte bommenwerper | |||||
| PZL-104 Wilga 35A | Light utility and training | 1 | One in 1997. | |||
| Mil Mi-8 | Transporthelikopter | 4 | 1995– | Four delivered in November 1995. | ||
| Mil Mi-2 | Lichte helikopter | 3 | 1994– | R44 | Three delivered in October 1994; all three still listed in 1997. | |
| Laat L-410UVP Turbolet | Licht transport | 2 | 1993– | Two donated by Germany in February 1993. | ||
| Farman HF.30 | Verkenning | 1 | 1919– | The first operational aircraft, captured from Soviet forces. |
Where the Estonian Air Force flies from
Zwarte pinnen zijn actieve bases, holle pinnen zijn de bases die gesloten zijn. Ämari is the only air base in Estonia, and the fighters on it are allied, not Estonian: NATO detachments have held quick reaction alert here since 1 May 2014, from 1 August 2026 as the Baltic Air Defence mission. Pärnu, a civil airport, took the air force’s aircraft while Ämari was closed in 2024; the interwar stations at Tallinn-Lasnamäe, Tartu and Rakvere closed in 1940. Entries with no published aerodrome data carry no pin.
| Baseren | ICAO | Status | Startbaan | Eenheden en vliegtuigen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ÄmariHarju County (Harjumaa), Lääne-Harju-parochie | EEEI | Actief | 06/242.750 mbeton en asfalt |
|
| Pärnu AirportPärnu County | EEPU | Actief | 03/211,970 m |
|
| Rakvereinterwar air groupLääne-Viru County | Closed 1940 | |||
| TallinnLasnamäeHarju County, Tallinn | Closed 1940 |
|
||
| Tartuinterwar air groupTartu County | Closed 1940 |
Geen enkele luchtmachtbasis voldoet aan die zoekopdracht.
Who is stationed where in the Estonian Air Force
Vliegende eenheden per basis, met de huidige eenheden eerst. The 1st Air Squadron at Ämari is the only Estonian flying unit; the allied detachments and the Soviet regiments that flew from Ämari and Pärnu are listed too, each marked as not Estonian. Where a unit number or date rests on Wikipedia alone, the entry says so.
- 1st Air SquadronFlying squadron · active
- M28 (C-145A) Skytruck, Aero L-39C Albatros (leased)
- Airfield, Air Support, Air Force Support and Base Defence SquadronsBase support squadrons · active
- Air Defence Wing (Õhukaitsedivisjon)Grondgebonden luchtverdediging · actief
- IRIS-T SLM
- Air Surveillance Wing (Õhuseiredivisjon) and Ämari Control and Reporting CentreAir surveillance and control · active
- NATO Baltic Air Policing (from 1 August 2026 Baltic Air Defence) detachmentAllied fighter detachment (rotational) · allied
- F-16, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35A, Mirage 2000-5, JAS 39C Gripen, EF-18 Hornet
- 88th Fighter-Bomber Aviation Regiment (Soviet Air Forces)1967–1984
- MiG-17, MiG-21PFM, MiG-27
- 321st Fighter-Bomber and 170th Naval Shturmovik Aviation Regiments (Soviet)1977–1994
- Su-7B, Su-24
- 1st Air Squadron (temporary detachment)2024–2024
- M28 (C-145A) Skytruck
- 366th Fighter Aviation Regiment (Soviet Air Defence Forces)
- MiG-23
Geen enkel apparaat voldoet aan die zoekopdracht.
Estonian Air Force milestones, 1914 to today
21 November: an air half-company is formed in the Engineer Battalion under August Roos, a week before the Red Army attacks.
15 February: a captured Farman HF.30 flies the first Estonian combat sortie. 22 February: 40 aircraft (28 serviceable) and 476 people.
The War of Independence ends with 44 aircraft; after the Treaty of Tartu the unit becomes an Aviation Regiment.
1 December: communist insurgents briefly seize the Lasnamäe airfield in Tallinn and escape in two hijacked aircraft.
Peak interwar strength: 77 reasonably modern aircraft, two years after the Air Defence Staff was created on 4 October 1930.
17 June: Soviet forces invade; the air force takes no action and becomes the aviation squadron of the Red Army’s 22nd Territorial Rifle Corps.
February: the first all-Estonian flight is formed in German service; about 3,000 Estonians eventually serve in Luftwaffe auxiliary air defence.
16 December: the air force is re-established after the restoration of independence.
7 February: Col. Vello Loemaa becomes the first commander. 13 April: Air Force Headquarters formed. October: three Mi-2s arrive.
15 May: the Air Base is established at Ämari, a former Soviet Su-24 base.
1 January: the Air Surveillance Wing is formed at Ämari.
29 March: Estonia joins NATO and allied fighters start Baltic Air Policing from Šiauliai.
Autumn: Ämari’s new runway opens during the 2008–2012 rebuild.
30 April: four Danish F-16s land at Ämari; from 1 May a NATO quick reaction alert detachment is based there.
1 July: the Air Defence Wing is formed. Autumn: IRIS-T SLM ordered jointly with Latvia.
Ämari closes from March for an €18.5 million runway renovation and reopens on 8 November. December: R44s and An-2s retired.
19 September: three Russian MiG-31s enter Estonian airspace near Vaindloo for about 12 minutes; Estonia requests NATO Article 4 consultations.
22 June: first IRIS-T SLM unit arrives. 1 August: Baltic Air Policing becomes the Baltic Air Defence mission, with Turkish F-16s at Ämari.
Elke oorlog waaraan de Estse luchtmacht heeft deelgenomen
Uitvallen en verliezen waar de gegevens die vermelden, en een eerlijke blanco waar die ontbreken.
- Estse Onafhankelijkheidsoorlog 1918–1920 Reconnaissance and liaison with captured and abandoned aircraft
- De communistische opstand van 1 december 1924 1924 The target, not a participant: insurgents seized the air division’s airfield and barracks
- De Sovjetbezetting van Estland 1940 No resistance; aircraft remained in their hangars
- Tweede Wereldoorlog: Estse vliegers in Duitse en Sovjetdienst 1941–1946 Maritime reconnaissance, anti-submarine patrol and night attack on the German side; night bombing on the Soviet side
Estonian Air Force news from Afterburner
Everything MiGFlug’s magazine has published on the Estonian Air Force and the aircraft it flies. Deze lijst wordt automatisch vernieuwd — nieuwe Afterburner-verhalen verschijnen hier automatisch.
Everything people ask about the Estonian Air Force
What is the Estonian Air Force called in Estonian?
Does Estonia have fighter jets?
What aircraft does the Estonian Air Force fly in 2026?
When was the Estonian Air Force founded?
What happened to the Estonian Air Force in 1940?
What happened when Russian MiG-31s entered Estonian airspace in September 2025?
What air defence does Estonia have?
Where is the Estonian Air Force based?
Did the interwar Estonian Air Force ever fight?
Read the aircraft the Estonian Air Force flew
Elk type met een pagina in het Boek der Dieren, eerst op basis van de periode dat het in dienst was, daarna op basis van het jaar waarin het de vloot verliet.
Alle feiten gecontroleerd
- Estse strijdkrachten: Estse luchtmachtOfficiële Engelse pagina: structuur (personeel, luchtmachtbasis, luchtverdediging, luchtbewaking, militaire luchtvaartautoriteit), commandant, vliegtuigen, historisch overzicht (1918, 44 vliegtuigen in 1920, 77 in 1932, hoofdkwartier 1994, luchtmachtbasis 1997, bewakingsvleugel 1998, BAP in Amari 1 mei 2014).
- Kaitsevägi: Õhuvägi (Eststalige luchtmachtpagina en geschiedenis)Officiële Estse spelling Õhuvägi; gedetailleerde geschiedenis: 21 november 1918, eerste gevechtsvlucht; 15 februari 1919, 44 vliegtuigen in 1920, 77 in 1932, Esten in Duitse en Sovjetdienst; 16 december 1991, eerste commandant; 7 februari 1994, inventaris van 1997, radars.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Estonian Air Force HeadquartersHQ at Juhkentali 58, Tallinn, with the Joint HQ; Chief of Staff Col. Fredi Karu; A1–A9 structure.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Air Defence WingFormed 1 July 2023, permanently at Ämari; headquarters and two missile batteries; IRIS-T SLM; commander Maj. Kaarel Piirisalu.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Air Surveillance WingFormed 1 January 1998 at Ämari; five military radar sites; Ämari Control and Reporting Centre; Estonian detachment at CRC Karmelava, Lithuania.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Military Aviation AuthorityAir force unit in Tallinn regulating military aviation; commander Lt Col. Reet Stamm.
- Estonian Defence Forces: The Ämari Air BaseEstablished 15 May 1997; Soviet airfield 1940–1941; taken over 1994; commander Lt Col. Katrin Tõugjas; squadrons; two M28; leased L-39; QRA since 1 May 2014; runway reopened 8 November 2024.
- Kaitsevägi: Lennubaas (Estonian-language Ämari page with rotation table)Base history, squadrons, and the table of NATO air policing rotations at Ämari from 30 April 2014 to 2026.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Baltic Air Policing in Ämari AirbaseQRA detachment at Ämari since 1 May 2014; four-month rotations; 2025–2026 rotations.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Medium-Range Air Defence Missile Systems IRIS-T SLM Arrive in the Estonian Air Force (22 June 2026)First of three IRIS-T SLM firing units at Ämari; rest in 2027; joint procurement with Latvia agreed autumn 2023.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Turkish Air Force took over the NATO Baltic air defence mission in Estonian airspace (31 July 2026)Portuguese F-16s hand over to Turkish F-16s of 181 Squadron; Baltic Air Policing becomes Baltic Air Defence mission on 1 August 2026.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Romanian fighter jet downed a UAV in Estonian airspace (19 May 2026)Romanian F-16 from Lithuania downed a drone, likely of Ukrainian origin, south of Põltsamaa; one missile fired.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Russian Federation aircraft violated Estonian airspace (19 September 2025)Three MiG-31s near Vaindloo for about 12 minutes; no flight plans, transponders off; Italian F-35s from Ämari; fourth violation of 2025.
- Estonian Defence Forces: The Estonian Defence Forces launched an operation to enable rapid response to air threats (14 November 2025)Air force-led operation; dispersal of air surveillance and air defence units; Italian Typhoons and an Italian SAMP/T battery.
- Estonian Defence Forces: The air threat in Estonia has ended (31 March 2026)Preventive air threat alert overnight on 31 March 2026 in Virumaa and South Estonia.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Spanish air defence unit supports the protection of Estonian airspace with a NASAMS air defence system (25 September 2024)Spanish NASAMS in Estonia March–end 2023 and again from August 2024; IRIS-T contracts signed with Latvia in September 2023.
- Estonian Defence Forces: The Royal Netherlands Air Force F-35 fighter jets practice drone defense on the coast of Rutja (4 March 2025)Dutch F-35s from Ämari fire AIM-9s at target drones; 10 identification flights against Russian aircraft.
- Estonian Defence Forces: NATO Exercise Was Held in Estonian Airspace (6 March 2025)Exercise Viking Nebula; Estonian Air Force tactical control; quote from Brig. Gen. Toomas Susi.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Allied and Estonian troops practice air support procedures during exercise Pikne (5 December 2024)Dutch F-35s, French Rafales and an Estonian R-44 in December 2024.
- Estonian Defence Forces: French forces practice rapid air deployment to Estonia during Exercise Pikne (3 December 2024)About 200 French paratroops flown into Ämari; Estonian R44 in support.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Estonian and Allied Air Forces Conduct Training Flights in Estonian Airspace as Part of Exercise Pikne (29 November 2024)Training flights from Ämari and Šiauliai; low-level and supersonic flying in north-eastern Estonia.
- Estse strijdkrachten: Geschiedenis van de strijdkrachtenLuchtmachtcompagnie opgericht op 21 november 1918; 40 vliegtuigen (28 operationeel) en 476 personeelsleden op 22 februari 1919; Luchtverdedigingsstaf opgericht op 4 oktober 1930; restauratiedatum 1991.
- Estonian Defence Forces: Commander of the Defence ForcesLt Gen. Andrus Merilo, Commander of the Defence Forces since 1 July 2024.
- Estonian Ministry of Defence: Defence budget2026 budget €2.4 billion, 5.4 per cent of GDP; at least 5 per cent 2027–2029; first IRIS-T deliveries; UAV procurement.
- Estonian Ministry of Defence: Defence budget (2024 edition of the page)2024 budget €1.3 billion, 3.21 per cent of GDP; short-range air defence ammunition.
- ERR News: Ämari Air Base to be closed for renovation through to autumn (18 January 2024)€18.5 million renovation, March to October 2024; BAP to Lielvārde; Estonian Air Force aircraft to Pärnu.
- ERR News: Luxembourg contributes €12 million to Ämari renovation (31 January 2024)Luxembourg pays €12 million of €18.5 million; quotes from Hanno Pevkur and Yuriko Backes.
- ERR News: Gallery: Ämari Air Base’s runway reopens (8 November 2024)Runway reopened 8 November 2024; air force aircraft had moved to Pärnu; base commander Lt Col. Maanus Nigul.
- ERR News: US to invest nearly $14 million in Ämari Air Base (19 December 2017)$13.9 million in FY2018 NDAA for apron and fuel; over $32 million already invested under the European Deterrence Initiative.
- Estonian World: NATO opens an air base in Estonia (2 May 2014)Four Danish F-16s arrived at Ämari on 30 April 2014 for four months.
- Estonian World: Chart shows Russian jets’ 12-minute violation of Estonian airspace (20 September 2025)Route and timing of the MiG-31 flight; Italian F-35s; Swedish Gripens; Article 4; statements of Estonian ministers.
- Estonian World: Eerik-Niiles Kross, Why NATO held fire on Russian jets – and why Estonia may need its own (21 September 2025)Opinion by an Estonian MP arguing for leased Gripens; used only to report that argument.
- NATO Allied Air Command: preparation for BAP at Lielvārde (2023)Mission moves to Lielvārde from March to the end of November 2024 while Ämari’s runway is repaired; German DCRC at Ämari.
- Estonian Aviation Museum (Eesti Lennundusmuuseum)Exhibition "Robinson R44: 22 years in the Estonian Defence Forces, 2002–2024"; collection near Tartu.
- EANS eAIP Estonia, AD 2 EEEI Ämari (AIRAC 08/2026)ARP 591544N 0241307E; elevation 70 ft; RWY 06/24 2,750 x 45 m; PPR military aerodrome.
- EANS Aeronautical Information Management: eAIPCurrent edition AIRAC AMDT 08/2026, effective 6 August 2026.
- EANS eAIP Estonia, AD 2 EEPU Pärnu (AIRAC 08/2026)ARP 582508N 0242822E; elevation 47 ft; RWY 03/21 1,970 x 30 m asphalt; operator AS Tallinna Lennujaam.
- OurAirports luchthavendatabase (openbaar domein)
Cijfers geverifieerd op 29-09-2026. De pagina's van Order of Battle worden opnieuw gegenereerd vanuit één dataset; als een getal hier niet overeenkomt met een pagina in Book of Beasts, is deze pagina de meest recente van de twee.
Photographs: Photo: Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: simon butler from halesowen, uk / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) · Photo: Jerry Gunner from Lincoln, UK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) · Photo: Mztourist / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo: Alan Wilson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo (Lithuanian L-410 shown): Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0) · Photo: Andre Gerwing / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo (Hawker Hart in other markings shown): Michael Gaylard from Horsham, UK / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0) · Royal Air Force Bulldog. [[User:Ad Meskens|Ad Meskens You are free to use this picture for any purpose as / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) · Photo (Potez 25 in other markings shown): Peyot / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)