Four NATO F-16s Returned to Intercept Russian Jets in The Baltic Sea
Zi News
2022-12-03
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Polish F-16 group to guard skies over the Baltic Sea
The Polish Air Force has taken over from Hungary, the command of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission based in Siauliai, Lithuania.
Poland's 150-strong Orlik 11 group will now guard the skies over the Baltic Sea with its four F-16s until March 2023 for a four-months tour of duty. They will be supported by France, which will contribute four Rafale fighters.
“NATO's air defence is a key issue today,” said Lithuanian Deputy Defence Minister Vilius Semeška during the handover ceremony on Thursday, adding that at the Madrid summit the Alliance’s countries agreed to strengthen deterrence and defence capabilities, including in the area of air defence.”
Orlik-11 had already been operating in a support role since October 1.
“The geopolitical situation dictated that, as NATO, we had to increase the number of aircraft and the presence of the armed forces in the Baltic states,” said Lt. Col. Michał Kras, Orlik 11’s commander, during a recent visit by Polish reporters to Siauliai.
NATO countries are supporting Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, who currently lack warplanes capable of patrolling their airspace. The mission is currently in its 61st deployment, with Poland contributing its Orlik contingent for the 11th time.
Monitoring Russia’s activity
Baltic Air Policing aircrafts are often used to identify Russian aircrafts flying to and from Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave. According to NATO, Russian planes often approach alliance airspace without communicating to air-traffic control or submitting a flight plan, and having their localisation and identification transponders switched off.
The mission is under the control of NATO’s regional multinational air force command in Uedem, Germany.
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NATO considers the idea of transferring MiG-29 and F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine again
According to Stavridis, NATO countries could send fighters such as the MiG-29, which is still used by Poland, or it could also be the US F-16, which Stavridis said is a type of fighter. Multitasking and easy to train.
The retired admiral also suggested that the West would eventually fulfill President Zelensky’s demands such as helping to seal the country’s airspace and providing modern weapons such as surface-to-air missiles, systems Iron Dome air defense system made by Israel or Patriot air defense missile system of NATO.
Although Mr. Stavridis did not disclose his sources of information, his article was published on the same day as the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in the Romanian capital Bucharest. The conference will discuss future support measures for Kyiv in the context of the conflict showing no signs of abating.
The Polish Air Force has taken over from Hungary, the command of the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission based in Siauliai, Lithuania.
Poland's 150-strong Orlik 11 group will now guard the skies over the Baltic Sea with its four F-16s until March 2023 for a four-months tour of duty. They will be supported by France, which will contribute four Rafale fighters.
“NATO's air defence is a key issue today,” said Lithuanian Deputy Defence Minister Vilius Semeška during the handover ceremony on Thursday, adding that at the Madrid summit the Alliance’s countries agreed to strengthen deterrence and defence capabilities, including in the area of air defence.”
Orlik-11 had already been operating in a support role since October 1.
“The geopolitical situation dictated that, as NATO, we had to increase the number of aircraft and the presence of the armed forces in the Baltic states,” said Lt. Col. Michał Kras, Orlik 11’s commander, during a recent visit by Polish reporters to Siauliai.
NATO countries are supporting Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia, who currently lack warplanes capable of patrolling their airspace. The mission is currently in its 61st deployment, with Poland contributing its Orlik contingent for the 11th time.
Monitoring Russia’s activity
Baltic Air Policing aircrafts are often used to identify Russian aircrafts flying to and from Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave. According to NATO, Russian planes often approach alliance airspace without communicating to air-traffic control or submitting a flight plan, and having their localisation and identification transponders switched off.
The mission is under the control of NATO’s regional multinational air force command in Uedem, Germany.
-
NATO considers the idea of transferring MiG-29 and F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine again
According to Stavridis, NATO countries could send fighters such as the MiG-29, which is still used by Poland, or it could also be the US F-16, which Stavridis said is a type of fighter. Multitasking and easy to train.
The retired admiral also suggested that the West would eventually fulfill President Zelensky’s demands such as helping to seal the country’s airspace and providing modern weapons such as surface-to-air missiles, systems Iron Dome air defense system made by Israel or Patriot air defense missile system of NATO.
Although Mr. Stavridis did not disclose his sources of information, his article was published on the same day as the meeting of NATO foreign ministers in the Romanian capital Bucharest. The conference will discuss future support measures for Kyiv in the context of the conflict showing no signs of abating.
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