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RAMSTEIN, Germany - From September, Italian and German fighters will be deployed in Lithuania and Estonia respectively. The detachments with their Eurofighter jets will take over from their outgoing Spanish, French and UK colleagues. While Italy will be leading the mission, the German detachment will be augmenting as an enhanced Air Policing contribution.

Until April 2014, the Baltic Air Policing mission was effectively executed by a single Allied fighter detachment at Šiauliai; in response to Russia’s actions in Ukraine, NATO – within the Assurance Measures for Allies on the eastern flank – has authorized additional enhanced Air Policing detachments and opened a second airfield for BAP at Ämari, Estonia.

This is the 4th Italian and 12th German deployment to the region. Besides being responsible for flying NATO Air Policing missions over the Baltic Allies, they will carry out combined training with the Lithuanian and Estonian Armed Forces and other Allies in the region. The Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem, Germany controls the mission. The continuation of the Baltic Air Policing mission demonstrates NATO’s cohesion and the collective resolve of Allies to implement deterrence and defence.

Italian and German Eurofighters securing the skies over NATO. Photos courtesy of Italian and German Air Forces.