The Polish Air Force will be contributing air assets and crews to the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission for the seventh time (after 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, and two rotations in 2014). Poland carried out the previous missions with MiG-29 Fulcum fighters but this rotation will fly F-16 Fighting Falcons.
The rotation ceremony at Šiauliai Air Base will be attended by Vice Minister of National Defence Vytautas Umbrasas, and other guests.
The outgoing Dutch shift of the Baltic Air Policing Mission were completing the task with four F-16 Fighting Falcons.
NATO allies began maintaining a rotating presence of air assets and crews to safeguard the Baltic airspace in 2004, upon the NATO accession of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. 17 NATO allies have deployed capabilities to carry out the mission since. The rotation Poland is taking over will be 44th since 2004.
