THEST Fighter Squadron 'Stingers' of the Belgian Air Force is markingyears of service.Like many European fighter unitsthe Stingers have been extremely busy with NATO Enhanced Air Policing (EAP) missions. The unit was on its scheduled rotation of policing duties in the Baltic stateshaving been deployed to Amari Air Base in Estonia since December;just before Russia invaded Ukraine in February. The scheduled rotationwhich should have ended in Aprilwas subsequently extended to Julywith a further extension on the cards. At the time of writingthis is the unit's primary missioncausing limitations to training provision back in Belgium.This should have been a quiet year for the unitwith an annual combined training squadron move abroad withSqn and a training opportunity with the French Navy in June. These plans changed following the outbreak of war in Ukrainewith the unit's new focus being to ensure pilots are combat-ready and prepared to fly to Estonia as soon as possible. The focus of the Stingers' training plan now leans heavily towards defensive counter air missionswith a scattering of air-to-surface training.
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