RAMSTEIN, Germany – Spanish and Italian fighter jets took to the skies on June 28 to conduct combined flying training aimed at gaining and maintaining air superiority in Polish airspace.
NATO continues activities and surveillance along the eastern flank to better defend Allies populations and territory and to deter potential aggression
Supported by a Spanish A400M tanker aircraft, four Spanish F/A-18 pilots from the detachment currently leading NATO Baltic Air Policing in Šiauliai, Lithuania, joined up with their counterparts from the Italian Eurofighter detachment conducting Air Policing from Malbork, Poland, to fly defensive and offensive patterns in the northeast of Poland. The eight fighter jets conducted drills to protect a high-value asset against simulated attacks within NATO’s Integrated Air and Missile Defence System.
A Spanish F/A-18 fighter jet during pre-flight procedures at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, where Spain is leading NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission. Photo by Spanish Air Force.
A Spanish Air Force A400M air-to-air refueling plane during an integration flight with Spanish F/A-18s and Italian Eurofighters over Poland on June 28, 2024. Photo by Spanish Air Force.
In a separate event on June 28, the Spanish A400M conducted air-to-air refueling with Spanish Navy AV-8B+ aircraft for the first time. Photo by Spanish Air Force.
Italian Eurofighter during a sunset mission over Poland. The Italian Air Force has safeguarded the skies conducing NATO Air Policing on the eastern flank with Eurofighters since February 2024. Photo by Italian Air Force.
The Polish Control and Reporting Centre controlled the fighter and air-to-air refueling activity in Polish airspace while NATO’s northern Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem, Germany, oversaw the training event.
The scheduled and programmed manoeuvres were prepared at NATO Allied Air Command with the goal to plan, coordinate, prepare and execute a flexible approach to air operations demonstrating NATO’s high-end capabilities. Employing in-place forces from Lithuania and Poland committed to Air Policing in the Baltic Sea region for a demonstration of combat enhancement training and integration of forces underlines cohesion of Allied forces and their readiness for meaningful deterrence.
Spain and Italy have been employed NATO’s Air Policing in the region since April 2024. Besides safeguarding the airspace in the region, their fighters and the A400M have been participating in several combined and joint training events assuring Allied populations.
NATO continues activities and surveillance along the eastern flank to better defend Allies populations and territory and to deter potential aggression by close integration of forces and regular training exercises.