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NATO Air Policing
Updated: 24 October 2025
NATO Air Policing is a permanent peacetime mission that aims to preserve the security of Allied skies. It is a collective task and involves the continuous presence – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – of fighter aircraft and crews, which are ready to react quickly to possible airspace violations.
An Italian Eurofighter flies next to a Montenegrin Learjet 45 during a simulated interception exercise over Montenegro, part of the NATO Air Policing mission in the country.
- Allied air forces stand ready 24/7 to intercept unidentified aircraft when needed. NATO Air Policing is a strong demonstration of solidarity among Allies, as countries with fighter aircraft capabilities help to secure the skies of countries that do not possess them.
- The Alliance has enhanced its NATO Air Policing capabilities in response to Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. These increased assets and deployments serve as additional proof of Allies’ commitment to defending each other against all threats.
- In response to increasing airspace violations by Russian drones and jets, NATO launched the multi-domain military activity Eastern Sentry in September 2025. NATO Air Policing is contributing to Eastern Sentry, helping strengthen deterrence and defence along the Alliance’s eastern flank.
- NATO Air Policing is conducted within the broader NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) framework, which also includes air surveillance radars, surface-based air defence systems and ballistic missile defence systems.
- The Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) is responsible for the conduct of NATO Air Policing.
Purpose of the mission
The primary purpose of NATO Air Policing is to safeguard the integrity and security of airspace. Allied air forces achieve this by continuously monitoring all air traffic in and around Europe, enabling them to detect and respond to any unusual activity, including intercepting potentially hostile aircraft. Moreover, NATO Air Policing forces also provide support to civilian aircraft in distress – for example, when they have lost communication with air traffic control.
Established in 1961 during the Cold War, NATO Air Policing has been an integral part of NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD) for decades. On duty 24/7/365, NATO Air Policing is a constant in a rapidly changing security environment, giving NATO the capability to protect its skies in peacetime. It is a clear sign of cohesion, shared responsibility and solidarity across the Alliance.
Command structure
NATO Air Policing is carried out using the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS). The Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) has the overall responsibility for the conduct of NATO Air Policing.
Allied Air Command (AIRCOM), headquartered in Ramstein, Germany, oversees the NATO Air Policing mission with 24/7 command and control from three Combined Air Operations Centres (CAOCs):
- one in Torrejón, Spain, which covers airspace south of the Alps;
- one in Uedem, Germany covering airspace north of the Alps; and
- one in Bodø, Norway covering airspace across the Nordic region and the Arctic.
The areas of responsibility of the three CAOCs overlap, providing critical redundancy that ensures continuous air command and control. Together, these CAOCs plan, direct and coordinate the activities of NATO Air Forces, monitoring up to 30,000 air movements across European NATO airspace each day. When an interception is required – in the case of airspace violations, suspicious air activity close to the Alliance’s borders or other kinds of unsafe air traffic that does not adhere to international air safety norms – the relevant CAOC decides from which air base the aircraft will be scrambled, according to the location of the incident.
Regional assistance
NATO member countries provide the necessary aircraft and assets for air policing, either individually or in multinational teams, under SACEUR’s direction. Countries without the necessary air capabilities are assisted by other NATO members. NATO currently oversees five regional air policing missions.
Baltic Air Policing
NATO has been protecting the Baltic skies since 2004, when Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the Alliance. NATO member countries that possess the required capabilities voluntarily contribute to NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission, and this responsibility is rotated every four months. Since the mission’s deployment in 2004, participating NATO fighter aircraft have been based at Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania. Since 2014, NATO aircraft have also been based at Ämari Air Base in Estonia. Since 2024, Lielvārde Air Base in Latvia is also capable of hosting NATO Air Policing aircraft.
Enhanced Air Policing on NATO’s eastern flank
As a part of the broad set of assurance measures introduced following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014, Allies are providing additional assets to enhance air policing along NATO’s eastern borders. To that end, Allies have supplemented the existing NATO Air Policing forces in the Baltic States, deployed additional aircraft to Poland, and augmented the national air policing capabilities of the Bulgarian and Romanian air forces. As part of the Eastern Sentry military activity launched in September 2025, Allies are deploying additional assets – including more fighter jets, surveillance planes, refuelling and transport aircraft, and air defence systems – that complement NATO Air Policing along the eastern flank.
Eastern Adriatic and Western Balkans
NATO Allies have conducted air policing missions in the Eastern Adriatic and Western Balkans since a number of countries in the region joined the Alliance. Hungary and Italy have covered Slovenia’s airspace since its accession to NATO in 2004. Greece and Italy have covered the airspace of Albania since 2009, Montenegro since 2017 and North Macedonia since 2020.
Iceland
Since May 2008, Allies have periodically deployed fighter aircraft to Keflavík Air Base to provide protection for Icelandic airspace. Prior to this, the United States conducted air policing as part of its military presence in Iceland from 1951-2006. The Alliance’s Iceland air policing mission is different from other regional assistance missions in that it does not permanently cover Iceland’s airspace. Instead, it typically involves a deployment of fighter aircraft from a NATO Ally for a period of three to four weeks, three times a year.
Benelux
In 2015, Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands (known collectively as the Benelux countries) signed an agreement to conduct joint air policing of their territories. Under this agreement, the Belgian and Dutch air forces cover the Benelux airspace on a rotational basis. The joint operations started on 1 January 2017.
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Topics
- ▪ Integrated Air and Missile Defence Policy Committee
- ▪ NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence
- ▪ Readiness Action Plan
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