The pilot fired the AIM-120 while flying over Pangodi, some 40 kilometers north of Tartu, south Estonia, during training on Aug. 7
An investigation by the Spanish Air Force has determined that pilot error was behind the accidental firing of a AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile over Estonia.
The Eurofighter pilot initiated the firing sequence while flying over Pangodi, some 40 kilometers north of Tartu, south Estonia, during training on Aug. 7.
Safety measures were somehow bypassed.
The Typhoon, supporting the NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, landed safely at its base in Šiauliai in Lithuania.
Spanish Eurofighter fighter aircraft were suspended from NATO Baltic Air Policing duties in the wake of the accidental AMRAAM launch. Portuguese F-16s and French Mirage 2000s took over the task during investigations.
Spain has deployed aircraft in the Baltics around six times since 2004. The last deployment included 135 personnel and six Eurofighter jets from the military base of Morón de la Frontera (Seville), which were stationed at the base of Siauliai in northern Lithuania. The mission began on May 1 and ended on August 31.
The AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile) missile is a versatile and proven weapon with operational flexibility in a wide variety of scenarios.
The weapon’s advanced active guidance section provides aircrew with a high degree of combat flexibility and lethality.
Procured by 37 countries, the combat-proven AMRAAM missile has been integrated onto the F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-22, F-35, Typhoon, Gripen, Tornado and Harrier.
Photo credit: Alan Wilson from Stilton, Peterborough, Cambs, UK (Eurofighter EF2000 Typhoon ‘C.16-48 / 14-12’) via Wikipedia
