Tapa Air Base

Military and political. The air base was a strategic installation of the Soviet Air Defence Forces. Its closure was a direct consequence of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the restoration of Estonia's independence. As part of the agreement for the withdrawal of former Soviet (now Russian) troops from Estonian territory, all military bases, including Tapa, were vacated and turned over to the Estonian government.

The site is now an integral part of the Tapa Army Base (Tapa Sõjaväelinnak), which is the largest military installation of the Estonian Defence Forces. It serves as the headquarters for the 1st Infantry Brigade and is the host base for the multinational NATO Enhanced Forward Presence (eFP) Battlegroup, led by the United Kingdom. The original 2500-meter runway, taxiways, and many of the hardened aircraft shelters are still physically present. The airfield infrastructure is not used for regular fixed-wing aviation but is actively used for military exercises, vehicle and driver training, and for operating Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). Some of the old Soviet-era structures have been repurposed for storage and other military functions.

Tapa Air Base was a key Soviet frontline air base throughout the Cold War. Initially constructed in 1940, it was a significant military asset. From the early 1950s until its closure, it was home to the 656th Fighter Aviation Regiment (656 IAP), part of the 14th Air Defence Division. The regiment's primary mission was to provide air defense for the Estonian SSR and the strategic Baltic Sea region, intercepting potential NATO intruders. The base hosted a succession of Soviet interceptor aircraft, including the MiG-17, MiG-19, Yak-28P, and, in its final years, the advanced MiG-23MLD. Its hardened aircraft shelters and extensive infrastructure were indicative of its importance in the Soviet Union's western air defense shield.

There are no plans to reopen Tapa as a primary, permanently-manned fighter base, as Estonia and NATO have invested heavily in Ämari Air Base for that role. However, the airfield is undergoing significant revitalization. In 2022-2023, the Estonian Centre for Defence Investments (ECDI) announced plans to extensively renovate the airfield. This includes upgrading the runway surface and building new helicopter landing pads and support facilities. The objective is not a full-scale reopening but to enhance its utility as a forward operating location for allied helicopters (like the US Army Apaches and Black Hawks stationed there), UAVs, and to serve as a dispersal airfield for transport and fighter aircraft in a crisis. This development will significantly increase NATO's operational capacity and resilience in the region.