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NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission rotations change over

Republic of Lithuania - Ministry of National Defence

2023-07-31
International cooperation

On August 2 at 2.00 p.m. a hand over-take over ceremony of air force detachments conducting the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states will take place at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai. After four months on guard of the Baltic airspace, Portuguese and Romanian air force detachments will hand over the mission to the Italian Air Force deploying a detachment with four Eurofighter Typhoon.

Airmen of the Italian Air Force will be securing the Baltic skies as the NATO Air Policing Mission detachment deployed in Lithuania for the 5th time, while the total of the NATO Air Policing Mission rotations provided by the Italian Air Force also include 3 deployments to Amari Air Base in Estonia. The current Italian detachment comprises 200 personnel - pilots, maintenance, medical personnel, support teams, specialized communications and other areas personnel.

The handing over Portuguese and Romanian servicemembers were guarding the Baltic skies with eight F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft and the strength of approx. 200 troops. In addition, servicemembers of both countries also supported charitable activities in Šiauliai.

The hand over-take over ceremony will be attended by Vice Minister of National Defence Renius Pleškys, representatives of the Embassies of Italy and Romania in Lithuania and both countries' military representatives, Commander of the NATO Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem Maj Gen Harold van Pee, Commander of the Lithuanian Air Force Base Lt Col Eligijus Rukšnaitis, and guests and residents of Šiauliai.

NATO Allies started deploying air personnel and assets to ensure protection of the airspace of the three Baltic states in March 2004 when Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia joined the Alliance. Since then, 17 Allies have already deployed their capabilities to conduct the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states. The mission was enhanced in 2014 with additional capabilities and retained the format to this day.