The mission involves monitoring and, when necessary, intercepting and escorting unauthorized aircraft - primarily from Russia.
For the past several months, the Polish contingent operated out of the Šiauliai Air Base in northern Lithuania, using four F-16 fighter jets and a 150-strong personnel unit. They were supported by Romanian forces during the deployment.
As of today, Hungary and Spain have taken over the mission. Hungarian forces will operate Gripen fighters, while the Spanish Air Force - stationed in Šiauliai, northern Lithuania - will fly Eurofighter Typhoons.
This marks Hungary’s fourth and Spain’s ninth rotation in the mission. Both will be backed by Italian aircraft based at Estonia’s Ämari Air Base.
NATO launched the Baltic Air Policing mission in 2004, following the accession of the three Baltic states into the Alliance.
Since Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania do not have their own fighter aircraft, NATO members take turns ensuring the security of their airspace on a rotational basis.
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Source: IAR/X/@RadioZagranica