The Netherlands sends a maximum of 10 F-35s to Estonia to deter Russia, including aircraft from Leeuwarden

The action will take place at the end of this year, Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren reported on Monday. She did this during a visit to Lithuania. The contribution is from December 2024 to March 2025 and should help deter the Russians.

The Netherlands is doing this at the request of Estonia, which borders Russia. According to Defense, this involves at least three aircraft for airspace surveillance and security, with the option to scale up to ten aircraft if this is necessary for additional operations and exercises. The Dutch campaign costs between 7 and 15 million euros.

Safety for all of us

“In this way, Dutch soldiers on land and in the air contribute to the security of the Baltic states and thus the security of all of us,” Ollongren says about the mission. The fighter planes will carry 90 to 150 soldiers to Estonia.

The air force’s action is ‘an important signal to Russia’, Defense said. The contribution also serves ‘to reassure Estonia and surrounding countries’. Moreover, the Dutch army can practice there itself, according to a letter to Parliament.

The three F-35s that are certain to go form a so-called Quick Reaction Alert (QRA). Fighter aircraft are ready 24 hours a day to quickly respond to possible intruders in the airspace. The Dutch aircraft in Estonia will soon be directly controlled by NATO.

Leeuwarden supplies equipment

There is a good chance that both Dutch air bases that house F-35s, Leeuwarden and Volkel, will supply aircraft, says spokesperson Elida Abma. More will be announced about this later.

“It is still early in the process. The minister wanted to announce this today,” says Abma. “The exact distribution will follow, but the planes will probably come from both Leeuwarden and Volkel.”

Army remains in Lithuania

Minister Ollongren also announced on Monday that the Dutch army will continue to supply soldiers to the NATO force in Lithuania until the end of 2026. This contribution also serves to deter Russia.

There are currently 270 to 300 Dutch soldiers in Lithuania. The maximum number of Dutch people participating in this mission is and remains 350. The 43 Mechanized Brigade from Havelte, among others, is regularly active in Lithuania. Many Frisians are stationed in Havelte.