International reporting
The French Mirage of the NATO sky police in Estonia hand over
Audio 02:32
Photo of a Mirage 2000 parked on the tarmac at Amari Air Base, Estonia, March 31, 2021. AFP - DIDIER LAURAS
By: Marielle Vitureau
3 mins
At Ämar Air Base in Estonia, it's time to say goodbye.
The French fighter planes which ensured NATO's police mission in the Baltic skies for more than four months are returning home.
They will be replaced by a German patrol.
This mission has existed since 2004, when the three Baltic countries joined NATO.
But since the start of the war in Ukraine, it has become even more important.
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From our regional correspondent,
For one of the last times, the alarm sounded.
The pilot climbs into the cockpit, his mechanic helps him to settle down.
Ten minutes later, the engine roars and the pilot directs his plane towards the runway.
There were six of them piloting the four Mirage 2000s under the command of Loïs, the head of the French detachment.
“
The activity here during its four months consisted of 15 take-offs on alert which led us to intercept Russian planes of all types, whether transport planes, fighter planes, but also warplanes electronics, listening planes,
he says
.
We are triggered on alert on these aircraft, because they have no transponders, which allows the controller to know their position, they have no flight plan, they have no radio contact.
»
The war in Ukraine changed the situation.
Sky police planes now have a new mission.
“
In the context of Russia-Ukraine tensions, we can also make so-called “close air-patrol” flights, just to be present at the border and show that we are there
,” says Captain Julien.
Securing airspace
NATO planes stationed in Estonia, but also in Lithuania, took off 170 times on alert from January to July.
This mission is reassuring, as explained by Tuuli Duneton, political director at the Estonian Ministry of Defence: "
It is a deterrent, I think that for Estonian citizens, it is very important to know that the French fighter planes are here, in our skies, given that Estonia itself does not have an air force.
»
When NATO planes take off on alert, they never know what to expect, recalls Commander Loïs: "
The risk when you take off on an unidentified aircraft is that you don't know your intentions.
So we are there in a deterrent posture, but also defensive.
We are there to ensure that the airspace is secure and that there are no threats threatening the Baltic countries.
»
If necessary, this peacetime mission could be transformed.
French planes can carry up to six air-to-air missiles for combat.
Estonia has also launched a major acquisition program and is negotiating, according to the press, with the United States for the purchase of the Himars rocket launcher.
But for Estonians, the roar of fighter jets remains the ultimate tune of freedom.
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