On 31 July 2026 Air Force Detachments conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states will rotate at a Hand Over – Take Over ceremony at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai.
The incoming detachment deployed by Italy will take over the main mission and tasks from the French Air and Space Force that has been guarding our airspace for the past four months, and from the Romanian Air Force Detachment which has been reinforcing the mission.
The Italian Air Force will be safeguarding the Baltic airspace for the eight time.
The outgoing French Air and Space Force Detchmant was conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states with four Rafale fighter jets and around 110 troops, including pilots, technical and medical personnel, logistic support, communications and other specialist personnel. While deployed in Šiauliai, the Detachment actively engaged with the city community, hosted student and pupil tours and contributed in city events, including arrangement of celebration of the national French holiday, Bastille Day.
The outgoing reinforcing Detachment formed by the Romanian Air Force was flying six F-16 Fighting Falcon jets. It included approx. 100 members: pilots, technical and medical personnel, logistic support, communications and other specialist personnel. While deployed in Šiauliai, the Detachment actively engaged with the city community, hosted student and pupil tours.
Both French and Romanian Detachments (BAP-71) shot down the drones that breeched into the Baltic airspace over the course of the recent NATO Air Policing Mission. The Romanian airmen took down the drone over Estonia and the French Air Detachment neutralised the drone in Latvia’s airspace.
The change-over ceremony will be attended by Vice Minister of National Defence Bronius Bieliauskas, representatives of the Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), ambassadors, representatives of the Šiauliai City Municipality and institutions, and other guests.
