Air policing over the Baltics

On 29 March, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia formally became members of NATO at a ceremony held in Washington, D.C.

As new members, these nations fall under NATO’s collective security and defence umbrella which includes routine policing of all NATO airspace as required.

In the case of the three Baltic nations, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, the Belgian Air Force has been called on to provide initial air policing over the extended ‘NATO’ skies.

On Monday, four Belgian F-16 aircraft deployed to provide the same level of routine security as for all Alliance members.

“We have established the capability for air policing in order to meet our commitments to the new nations,” said British Admiral Sir Ian Garnett, SHAPE’s Chief of Staff.

Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia have their own air defence capabilities. Air policing in their airspace will continue to be exercised by their national defence forces. Slovenian airspace will be covered by a combination of its own early warning system and air policing support provided by the Italian Air Force.

Historically, all members of the Alliance have either performed their own air policing functions or fulfil the mission in cooperation with neighbouring nations.

In addition to patrolling the skies, air policing encompasses air traffic control, radar observation and identification. If required, interceptor aircraft could be deployed to assist aircraft in distress or conduct visual identification of unscheduled aircraft inside NATO airspace.