North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
April 30, 2015
Norway takes the lead for the 38th rotation of the Baltic Air Policing Mission
RAMSTEIN, Germany: Norwegian F-16 crews are now protecting the skies on the high-profile NATO mission over the Baltic states. Norway officially assumed the role of lead nation of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission at Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania on Thursday, 30 April 2015.
This is the 38th rotation of the Baltic Air Policing mission and Norway’s third time as lead nation. Norway has deployed four F-16 fighters to the Lithuanian base in Šiauliai, where they will fly missions over the Baltic region until the end of August. Eurofighter Typhoons from Italy will remain in place at Šiauliai for an additional four months. Polish MiG-29 fighters will return to Poland after a successful 4 month tour of duty.
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At Ämari Air Base in Estonia, Spanish Eurofighter Typhoons are being replaced by U.K. Royal Air Force Typhoons on 11 May. At Malbork, Poland, F-16 fighters from Belgium will continue their mission until the end of August.
Meanwhile, NATO’s assurance measures are well underway in south eastern Europe, conducting air policing activities and training in Romania and Bulgaria. In Romania, the Portuguese Air Force is deploying four F-16 fighter aircraft on 4 May to Campia Turzii, to conduct regional air policing in conjunction with Romanian MiG-21 fighters. Separately, U.S. A-10’s are also deployed to Romania, under NATO command, training with regional allies.
In Romania, the Portuguese Air Force is deploying four F-16 fighter aircraft on 4 May to Campia Turzii, to work in conjunction with Romanian MiG-21 fighters. U.S. A-10 ground attack aircraft are also deployed to Romania, under NATO command, training with regional allies.
In Bulgaria, the U.S. Air Force will deploy 12 F-15C fighters to Graf Ignatievo Air Base in early May. The U.S. aircraft will be placed under NATO authority for training and exercising with their Bulgarian counterparts.
Since the beginning of 2015, NATO has observed an increase in Russian military flight activity, particularly in the Baltic Sea and Black Sea regions. NATO Air Policing aircraft routinely scramble in response to various air incidents.
Air Policing is a longstanding, peacetime task with the simple goal of safeguarding Allied skies. This mission illustrates the Alliance’s unique approach to collective defence and security. The Baltic Air Policing mission has been executed continuously since 2004. Allied nations regularly rotate the mission command as part of the Alliance’s collective defence agreement providing air policing jets in support of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. So far, 15 NATO nations have executed this mission. In May 2014, NATO increased the number of fighter aircraft conducting enhanced Baltic Air Policing due to instability caused by Russia’s interference in Ukraine.
Story by HQ AIRCOM and SHAPE Public Affairs Office
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