For the first time in history, Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 fighters operated from highways in Estonia

Yesterday, the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) announced that, for the first time in history, its CF-18 fighter jets operated from highways located in Estonia. This activity formed part of Exercise TARASSIS 25, which also involves aircraft from Italy and the host nation. According to local media, a total of eight Canadian fighters were sent to participate in the training, alongside Eurofighters from the Aeronautica Militare already stationed at Ämari Air Base and an M28 Skytruck transport aircraft deployed by the Estonian Air Force.

Delving into further details, the maneuvers took place on a section of the Jägala–Käravete road, which forms part of the Piibe Highway in Lääne-Viru County. It was also reported that one of the RCAF CF-18s was the first aircraft among the participating assets to successfully land on this alternate runway, piloted by Maxime Renaud.

Moreover, it was revealed that the Canadian aircraft not only conducted landing operations on the mentioned highway but also performed low-altitude flyover rehearsals, executing all pre-landing procedures without actually touching down. Subsequently, the training also included touch-and-go maneuvers, in which the fighter lands on the highway and immediately takes off again instead of coming to a full stop.

Regarding Exercise TARASSIS 25, it should be noted that the activity began in early September and will continue until the end of October. According to the RCAF, the exercise is being conducted across Northern Europe, extending from the North Atlantic to the Baltic Sea. In this context, NATO aircraft deployed in the region for air policing missions are expected to continue performing training flights in the coming days, including low-altitude and supersonic maneuvers.

To ensure that these training operations proceed smoothly for both the forces and the civilian population, prior coordination was carried out with the Estonian Transport Administration and the Air Navigation Services to close the relevant highway and restrict air traffic over the area. Additionally, the planned flight routes were drawn to avoid major population centers, considering the noise generated by high-speed, low-altitude flights.

Image credits: Royal Canadian Air Force

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