Poland and Romania take over NATO Baltic Airspace Patrol Mission in Lithuania / Day

As a result, there will be four Polish Air Force destroyers F-16 and four of the same type of Romanian Air Force aircraft on the mission.

The Polish and Romanian aircraft have replaced four Italian destroyers « Eurofighter Typhoon » and four French destroyers « Rafale ».

« The NATO Baltic Airspace Patrol Mission is a clear proof that the cornerstone of the Alliance – the principle of collective protection – works, » said Karolis Aleksa, Deputy Minister of Defense, Poland and Romania.

« We are grateful to our allies for joining this important mission. Your presence is the main element of deterrence and significantly strengthens the security of our region, » he added.

Poland has been involved in the Baltic airspace patrol mission for the 13th time and Romania for the third time.

A 140 -person Polish contingent and 110 people have arrived at the Siauliai Airbase – pilots, technicians, medical staff, support teams, communications and other fields.

NATO member states have been carried out by Latvian, Lithuanian and Estonian airspace on rotation since March 2004, when the Baltic States were admitted to the Alliance. Since 2004, patrols have been on Siauliai Airline, but since 2014, the support mission has also been carried out from the Emari base in Estonia.

As Russia continues the war in Ukraine, allies in the Baltic States not only respond to the unauthorized arrival of Russian military aircraft in the Baltic airspace, but also patrol in the airspace near the Russian -Belarusian border.

In response to Russia’s comprehensive invasion in Ukraine, NATO has increased airspace protection since March 2022, increasing the number of soldiers and destroyers.