A French and a new Italian contingent have kicked off their missions: the Italians will continue their fellow nationals’ work of the past four months with three Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft, airmen of the French Air Force will reinforce the Baltic airspace guard with the Rafale fighter jets. Our skies will be protected with eight fighter aircraft for the next four months.
“The NATO Air Policing Mission has never been so important. We are watching hostile countries intensify hybrid attacks on NATO territories, carry out provocations and sabotage. Credible protection of NATO airspace in the Baltic states is one of the most key elements of deterrence and defence. I thank our Allies from Italy and France for their security commitments to our region,” said MoD Defence Policy Director Vaidotas Urbelis.
The Handover Takeover ceremony was attended by Ambassadors of Italy and France, representatives of the Allied Air Command, Commander of the Lithuanian Air Force Col Antanas Matutis, representatives of Šiauliai municipality and other guests.
The Italian Air Force will be contributing its 7th rotation to the mission and the French –¬ the 8th one.
The detachment which had been in charge of the mission since July was comprised of approx. 150 troops, including the pilots, technical maintenance and medical personnel, support teams, communications and other specialists. Throughout the deployment in Šiauliai the Allies were engaging with the local community, conducted guided tours for pupils and students and took part in city celebrations.
When Russia launched the full-scale war against Ukraine, it became evident that the NATO Air Policing Mission fighter aircraft were as critical an element of deterrence as air defence in the event of aggression. As the war in Ukraine and the complex security situation in the region continues, NATO Allies are likely to keep the reinforced air policing capability in the Baltic region.
The NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states is flown from the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai. Other detachments deployed to Latvia, Poland and Estonia augment the NATO Baltic Air Policing.
