Dutch F-35 fighter jets have once again intercepted two Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea in recent days. According to the Dutch armed forces, these had previously entered the airspace of the NATO-alliance territory.
Dutch F-35s have been securing NATO’s eastern airspace since the beginning of December. The missions are carried out from the Estonian air force base in Åmari. The deployed contingent comprises four jets and between 90 and 150 soldiers. So far, the pilots have been alerted twelve times. They have identified a total of 22 Russian aircraft.
In February, the Dutch Air Force also trained the rapid transfer of F-35 fighter jets to and from a foreign base in Åmari. The four fighter jets involved flew in from Leeuwarden airbase. In addition the Dutch armed forces also recently trained to shoot down drones over the Baltic Sea.
Two F-35s fired several AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles at training drones. The exercise took place in controlled airspace and was carried out on the initiative of the Netherlands and Estonia.
