RAMSTEIN, Germany - On April 23, 2025, the first E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) landed at Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania to support enhanced Vigilance Activities in the Baltic region.
The NATO AWACS detachment will operate with three E-3A aircraft from Lithuania, for a number of weeks, executing enhanced Vigilance Activities. The detachment will also monitor the Baltic Sea region, strengthening NATO’s presence on the eastern flank.
This deployment also enhances NATO’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept, improving resilience and operational flexibility across dispersed locations. Training from Lithuania enables NATO AWACS to react swiftly to evolving scenarios and reinforces cooperation with the host nation's air base.
The E-3A is NATO’s ‘eyes in the sky’ playing an important role for the Alliance providing air and maritime surveillance capability. Photo courtesy of NATO AWACS
Three E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) aircraft will be deployed to Siauliai, Lithuania for enhanced Vigilance Activity. Photo courtesy of NATO AWACS
The deployment to Lithuania enhances NATO’s Agile Combat Employment concept, ensuring operational flexibility across dispersed locations. Photo courtesy of NATO AWACS
The E-3A is NATO’s ‘eyes in the sky’ and plays an important and unique role for the Alliance by protecting Allied airspace with air and maritime surveillance capability. They conduct a wide range of missions from peacetime air policing, support to counterterrorism, evacuation operations, embargo, initial entry and crisis response to the full spectrum of wartime missions.
The presence of AWACS in Šiauliai ensures continuity of operations and demonstrates Allied readiness. Šiauliai Air Base plays a key role in supporting Allied forces and rotational Air Policing capabilities. Its infrastructure boosts NATO’s air power, interoperability, and deterrence in response to the evolving geopolitical environment.