Defense
AI
NATO Jets Begin Supersonic Training Flights Over Estonia
NATO air policing aircraft have commenced a week of scheduled training exercises in Estonian airspace, conducting daily low-altitude and supersonic maneuvers coordinated with civilian authorities to ensure the readiness of the alliance's Baltic defense mission.
- —NATO air policing aircraft stationed in the Baltic states are conducting training flights, including low-altitude and supersonic maneuvers, over Estonian airspace from February 9 to February 15.
- —These training exercises are scheduled to take place daily between 10:00 and 22:00, with low-altitude flights not dropping below 152 meters (500 feet).
- —Supersonic flights may produce a sonic boom, which could be perceived as similar to a cannon shot or explosion.
- —All flights are coordinated with civilian air traffic control and conducted in accordance with Estonian laws and agreements with the Estonian Transport Administration and Lennuliiklusteeninduse AS.
- —The training is essential for maintaining the readiness of NATO aircraft to respond to air incidents, as part of the alliance's air policing mission over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.
Recap
The scheduled NATO air exercises over Estonia are a practical measure of operational readiness and a consistent signal of the alliance's commitment to collective defense in the Baltic region. By publicizing the potential for sonic booms and low-altitude flights, defense officials are managing the integration of military training within civilian airspace, mitigating public alarm while maintaining a visible deterrent posture.