On November 30 air force detachments implementing NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission tasks from Šiauliai will rotate at a hand over-take over of mission ceremony at the Lithuanian Air Force Base. After three month on duty, the Danish Air Force Detachment and the augmentation unit from Portugal will be replaced by the Polish Air Force Detachment which will patrol the Baltic airspace with four F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircraft.
The Polish Air Force is an active contributor to the efforts to ensure regional security and deterrence: this is going to be its 10th NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states that it flies. The latest Polish rotation will number up to 150 personnel: pilots, engineers, paramedics, support elements, specialists of communications and other areas.
The changeover ceremony will be attended by Vice Minister of National Defence Vilius Semeška, Deputy Commander NATO Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem Brigadier General Sławomir Żakowski, staff officer Major Martin Canuel on behalf of the NATO Force Integration Centre Lithuania, Commander Lithuanian Air Force Col Dainius Guzas, Defence Attaché of Denmark to Lithuania Col Niels Henrik Johansen, and representatives of Šiauliai city, as well as other guests.
The outgoing Royal Danish Air Force Detachment was policing the Baltic skies with four F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets and approx. 70 troops. The Danish were also actively engaged with the community of Šiauliai as much as the COVID-19 precautions allowed. The Portuguese Air Force Detachment also flew F-16 Fighting Falcons with their mission being manned by approx. 80 military personnel. Both detachments were not only identifying and escorting military aircraft of the Russian Federation in the international airspace over the Baltic Sea during the mission in Lithuania but were also training with colleagues from Lithuanian Armed Forces units.
The NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states will be enhanced by the Belgian Air Component Detachment with Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft deployed to Amari Air Force Base, Estonia. They will replace the current Italian rotation with Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.
NATO allies began deploying military personnel and air assets to safeguard the Baltic airspace in March 2004, as soon as Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia joined NATO. Since then, 14 NATO allies have deployed NATO Air Policing Mission rotations to the Baltic states. The Polish Air Forces Detachment will be conducting the 58th rotation since the start of the mission in 2004.
Media advisory:
Media representative are invited to cover the NATO Air Policing Mission changeover ceremony at Šiauliai Air Base on November 30. Please register until November 29 , 1000hrs, by phone at +370 (686) 00 655 aor by email at [email protected]. Please arrive at the Air Base (Lakūnų g. 3, Šiauliai) on November 30 before 1045hrs.
Photo credits: A. Glazauskas
