A handover-takeover ceremony of the NATO Air Policing mission in the Baltic states took place at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai on Thursday.
The Italian Air Force personnel with Eurofighter Typhoons took over from their nationals who have been on the watch for the Baltic airspace for the past four months. Italy’s effort will be bolstered by the French Air Force flying the Rafale fighter jets. In total, both allies will be safeguarding the Baltic countries’ airspace with eight fighter aircraft.
The Italian Air Force has sent its seventh rotation for the mission and the French have sent their eighth one.
NATO member countries have taken turns safeguarding Baltic airspace since Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined the alliance in 2004.
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