US A-10 Jets to Take Part in Drills in Western Estonia

TALLINN (Sputnik) — A squadron of A-10 Thunderbolt II "tank-killer" aircraft will land on Wednesday in the town of Kuressaare, on Saaremaa island in western Estonia, for the first time in order to participate in joint two-day drills with Estonian Air Forces and Kaitseliit, Estonia’s unified paramilitary armed forces, the press service of Kaitseliit said in a statement.

Earlier in August, ten A-10 Thunderbolt jets as well as four UH-64 Black Hawk and CH-47 Chinook helicopters of the US Army National Guard arrived at the base near Tallinn for NATO joint exercises.

"During the drills, controlling marine areas of the island and protection of Roomassaare port and its environs from sea and air will be practiced. Attack aircraft will fly over the sea and over Kuressaare, including at low altitudes. In Kuressaare, the aircraft of this type will land for the first time. Tanker aircraft MC-130 to service the jets will also arrive in the airport. The militia and servicemen of the Defence Forces will take part in the maneuvers on 18 speed boats," the statement reads.

The heavily armored A-10 Thunderbolt provides close air support for US ground forces and seeks and destroys tanks and other tactical wheeled vehicles.