Largest fleet of F‑35A jets in Estonia boosts NATO air power
The NATO Baltic Air Policing mission has returned to the Estonian Ämari airbase, hosting the largest fleet of F-35A aircraft in its history as part of recent exercises.
NATO shared photos on its X channel (formerly Twitter) of interoperability exercises at the recently refurbished Estonian Ämari airbase. The exercises involved the Dutch contingent currently stationed there, which comprises four F-35A aircraft, prepared for the arrival of additional aircraft.
The images below depict exercises during the arrival of another four Dutch F-35A aircraft from Leeuwarden Airbase. This increased the fleet of F-35A aircraft at Ämari airbase to eight, setting a record for this type of aircraft accommodated at the airport in Estonia.
F-35A - the modern successor to the ageing F-16
The F-35A Lightning II is a modern multi-role aircraft designed with technology that reduces its radar detectability. Initially conceived as a strike aircraft to complement the F-22 Raptor fighter, which specialises in air superiority, the F-35A project has evolved to become more versatile.
One of the main advantages of the F-35A, aside from its stealth features making it difficult to detect by radar, is its advanced suite of sensors. This includes the AN/APG-81 radar, or its newer version, AN/APG-85, with an active electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna.
Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with the AN/AAQ-37 EODAS system, featuring six infrared sensors that provide a thermal image of objects, offering 360-degree observation. This includes the detection of entirely passive missiles, allowing for detecting and targeting objects even if they are behind the aircraft.
F-35A - aircraft with limited armament carrying capability
Despite its numerous advantages, the F-35A has some limitations. One such limitation is the capacity of its internal weapon bays, which can hold a maximum of six AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air guided missiles, two B61-12 bombs, or JDAM-ER. Additional armaments can be mounted on six external pylons, but this neutralises the benefits of its stealth technology.
Another limitation is the maximum speed the F-35A can achieve, which is Mach 1.6, and the fact that it cannot sustain supersonic speeds without an afterburner. This considerably limits its ability to extend the effective range of, for example, air-to-air missiles.
