A pair of F-15Cs aided efforts to certify a second NATO forward operating base in the Baltic region, conducting barrier trials at Amari AB, Estonia, near the capital of Tallinn, according to an April 25 release. NATO fighters currently rotate to Šiauliai AB in neighboring Lithuania to conduct the alliance’s Baltic Air Policing mission. Given regional tensions with Russia, NATO is upping deployments and joint exercises with both Poland and the Baltic states, in addition to augmenting fighter forces patrolling allied airspace. Amari was recently modernized and is specifically equipped to host NATO quick reaction alert fighters, according to an Estonian air force fact sheet. “Making sure these [arresting barrier] cables are certified gives us another airfield to operate out of for joint exercises and other potential NATO operations,” said 2nd Lt. Bryan Butler, 48th Air Expeditionary Group maintenance officer deployed from RAF Lakenheath, Britain.
The Pentagon announced new long-term agreements with four defense companies May 13 to develop and produce large numbers of low-cost cruise missiles. And while the effort will focus mostly on the Army to start, it pairs with Air Force efforts to find more affordable munitions.