On March 31 a NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission hand over – take over ceremony will take place at the Lithuanian Air Force Base at Šiauliai. Having safeguarded the Baltic airspace for four and two months, the Polish Air Force Detachment and the Danish Air Force Detachment, respectively, will transfer the mission to the Spanish Air Force Detachment with eight F-18 Hornets. The new rotation will be augmented by five Czech Saab JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft.
“NATO patrols in the Baltic skies have always been a vital element of defence, today we can see it clearer than ever before. The security environment in the region is deteriorating, therefore we highly value the NATO response to the situation and strengthening of the Baltic air policing forces in the Eastern flank of NATO,” says Vice Minister of National Defence Margiris Abukevičius.
The Spanish Air Force will be protecting the Baltic airspace for the ninth time. The Check Republic has guarded our regional airspace three times before.
The changeover ceremony will be attended by Vice Minister of National Defence Margiris Abukevičius, Chief of Staff of Headquarters Allied Air Command at Ramstein Maj Gen Jörg Lebert, Commander of the Lithuanian Air Force Col Dainius Guzas, and other guests.
The outgoing Polish and Danish detachments were guarding the Baltic airspace with eight F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets.
Another Ally to enhance the incoming NATO Air Policing Mission rotation is France. It deployed to the Amari Airbase in Estonia 15 days ahead of schedule on March 13 with four Mirage 5F jets. This is the third France’s time on the mission in Estonia on which it will be supported by a Belgian Air Force Detachment with four F-16 Fighting Falcons.
The approx. 140-strong Polish unit not only protected the Baltic airspace but also made time to launch community contacts with Šiauliai residents, donated basic and education items to Šalčininkai Regional Family and Child Welfare Centre.
NATO Allies first deployed air personnel and assets to patrol the Baltic airspace in March 2004 when Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia became members of NATO. 14 NATO allies have provided security to the Baltic skies incessantly since then. The incoming Danish Air Detachment will be ensuring the 57 iteration of the mission since its beginning in 2004.
Media advisory:
To cover the Baltic Air Policing Mission changeover ceremony at the Lithuanian Air Force Bae in Šiauliai on March 31 media representatives need to register until March 30, 3.00 pm at [email protected]. Arrival at the Air Base (Lakūnų g. 3, Šiauliai) time on March 31: until 10.45 am.
Freelance reporters and foreign media representatives will need accreditation issued by the Lithuanian MoD Strategic Communication and Public Relations Department, e-mail [email protected]. Information required: attach a filled out questionnaire form, copies of a personal ID document and press card. The Questionnaire form can be found here: https://kam.lt/en/new.html?backlink=%252Fen%252Fsearch%252Fresults%252Fp0.html
Phot credits: MoD/A.Pliadis
