News
| Date | Title | |
| 29 Apr. 2019 |  | Four Italian Eurofighters are scheduled to deploy to Romania in early May, as part of NATO’s enhanced air policing mission. The jets will operate alongside the MiG-21s of their Romanian hosts. The air patrols will form an important part of the Alliance’s role to maintain security in the Black Sea region. |
| 17 Apr. 2019 |  |
Hungary to lead NATO's Baltic Air Policing, joined by UK and Spain Hungary will lead NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission from May 2019, with JAS-39 Gripen fighter aircraft based at Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania. Spain will augment the mission with F-18s at Šiauliai, while the United Kingdom will deploy Eurofighter aircraft to Ämari Air Base in Estonia. This will be the 50th Baltic Air Policing deployment since 2004. NATO member countries have taken turns safeguarding Baltic airspace since Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the Alliance in 2004. |
| 11 Apr. 2019 |  | On Tuesday (9 April 2019), two Italian Eurofighter aircraft were scrambled to intercept a civilian airliner that lost contact with civilian air traffic control. The Eurofighter aircraft, who are on alert to protect NATO airspace over Italy, Albania and Montenegro, successfully intercepted the airliner over Montenegro. The airliner was subsequently able to resume contact with civilian controllers. This was NATO’s first air policing mission over Montenegro. |
| 03 Jan. 2019 |  |
Poland takes over NATO air policing mission in Baltic states The Polish air force on Thursday (3 January 2019) took over the lead for NATO’s air policing mission in the Baltic states from the Belgian Air Force. In a ceremony at Lithuania’s Šiauliai airbase General Tod Wolters, Commander Allied Air Command welcomed the Polish Air Force detachment and commended the Belgian Air Force for having kept the Baltic airspace safe during their four months tour. |
| 04 Sep. 2018 |  | Four Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon jets have arrived at Iceland’s Keflavik Air Base, and from today (4 September 2018) they will help ensure the safety of Iceland’s airspace. Over the next few weeks, the Italian pilots will provide intercept capabilities and train together with the Icelandic Coast Guard and the NATO Control and Reporting Centre. The Italian jets will complement the air surveillance which Iceland executes with its four remote radar and communication sites. |
| 31 Aug. 2018 |  |
Belgium, Canada and Germany take up NATO air policing duties Starting in September, Belgian and German fighter aircraft will take responsibility for patrolling the skies as part of NATO’s Baltic air-policing mission. Operating out of Siauliai airbase in Lithuania, four Belgian F-16s will lead the mission, with four German Eurofighter aircraft supporting them out of Ämari airbase in Estonia. The detachments replace French, Portuguese and Spanish air force units which have patrolled the Baltic region since May 2018. |
| 17 Aug. 2018 |  | From September, the Belgian Air Force will take the lead of NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, supported by the German Air Force. A Belgian contingent of F-16 fighters will be based at Šiauliai, Lithuania, while German Eurofighter Typhoons will fly out of Ämari, Estonia. NATO Allies have taken turns safeguarding Baltic airspace since Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the Alliance in 2004. |
| 29 May. 2018 |  | NATO Allies Italy and Greece will begin NATO air patrols over Montenegro on 5 June 2018. Montenegro joined NATO in June last year. As the country does not have its own fighter planes, it has asked Allies to help secure its airspace. NATO air policing missions protect the skies of those Allies that do not have their own air force. There are currently several of these air policing missions across Europe. |
| 02 May. 2018 |  |
Portugal, Spain and France take over Baltic air policing duties |
| 18 Apr. 2018 |  |
Portugal to lead NATO's Baltic Air Policing, joined by France and Spain The Portuguese Air Force will lead NATO's Baltic Air Policing from May 2018, with four F-16M fighter jets based at Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania. Spain will contribute with six Eurofighters at Šiauliai, while France will deploy four Mirage 2000-5 jets to Ämari Air Base in Estonia. NATO member countries have taken turns safeguarding Baltic airspace since Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the Alliance in 2004. |