The Royal Danish Air Force will augment the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission with four additional F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft in Lithuania. The leading Polish air detachment in Lithuania and the augmenting Belgian air detachment in Estonia both operate four F-16 fighter aircraft each and have been protecting the Baltic skies since December 2021. On January 28 at 12 AM a welcome ceremony for the incoming NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission support will be held at Šiauliai Air Base.
NATO allies made the decision to send an augmentation detachment to the NATO Air Policing Mission once again in the context of Russia’s further increased tensions along Ukraine’s borders and with regard to the necessity to strengthen the security of NATO’s eastern allies, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Bulgaria, and to ensure deterrence.
On January 26, American fighter aircraft have landed at Amari Air Base. The US F-15s landed in Estonia to integrate with the current detachment of Belgian F-16s.
The Royal Danish Air Force will be conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states for the ninth time. The Danish crew will number approx. 80 servicemembers – pilots, engineers, paramedics, support elements, specialists of communications and other personnel.
NATO allies started deploying military personnel and fighter aircraft to guard the Baltic airspace in March 2004 as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia became members of NATO. Capabilities of 14 NATO allies have guarded the Baltic skies since then.
The current rotation of the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states is the 58th since it was launched. The Polish, Belgian and Danish rotation will end on 1 April 2022 and the duties will be passed on to Spanish, Czech and French air detachments.
Media opportunity:
To cover the event NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states enhancement ceremony at the Air Base on January 28, please register until January 27, 12 AM, at [email protected]. Arrive at the Air Base (Lakūnų g. 3, Šiauliai) on January 28 before 11.30 AM.
Freelance reporters and foreign media representatives will need accreditation given by the MoD Strategic Communication and Public Relations Department, e-mail [email protected]. Apply until January 27, 11.30 AM. Information required: attach a filled out questionnaire form, copies of a personal ID document and confirmation letter from the publisher media outlet. Questionnaire form can be found here: https://kam.lt/en/new.html?backlink=%252Fen%252Fsearch%252Fresults%252Fp0.html
FPP2 respirators will be required at the event.
NOTE: media access to the event may be cancelled as the COVID-19 situation evolves ahead of the event.
