Portuguese “Wolf” Joins NATO’s Assurance Measures in the Baltics

ŠIAULIAI, Lithuania - A Portuguese Air Force Maritime Patrol Aircraft type P-3C CUP+ deployed to Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania earlier in June in support of NATO’s 2018 Assurance Measures. Until mid-August the plane and a military detachment of approx. 30 personnel will be stationed at the base together with the 80-strong Portuguese Air Force F-16 detachment currently leading NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission.

Under NATO authority, the task of the Portuguese P-3C CUP+ will be to carry out maritime patrol missions in the Baltic countries, detecting and following movements of interest providing maritime situational awareness. The plane’s home base is Beja Air Base in southern Portugal where the fleet of five P-3C CUP+ is organised under 601 "Lobos” - or Wolves – squadron.

The Alliance’s Assurance Measures comprise a series of land, sea and air activities in, on and around the eastern part of Alliance territory; geographically focused and comprehensive these measures offer a graduate, flexible and calibrated approach to assure Allies

NATO’s Baltic Air Policing is a routine peacetime defensive mission and a fundamental component of how NATO provides security to its members safeguarding Allied airspace.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office based on information provided by the Portuguese Air Force