Four Eurofighter Typhoons of the British Royal Air Force have landed at the Lithuanian Zokniai Air Force Base near Siauliai. The aircraft will strengthen the Polish Air Contingent, which will take over the rotating NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission from the United States.
Four Eurofighter Typhoons of the British Royal Air Force have landed at the Lithuanian Zokniai Air Force Base near Siauliai. The aircraft will strengthen the Polish Air Contingent, which will take over the rotating NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission from the United States.
Troops of the Polish Air Force with four Mig-29s will land at Zokniai Air Base tomorrow.
Moreover, four F-16 fighter jets of the Danish Air Force will be patrolling the Baltic airspace from the Amari Air Base of the Estonian Air Force, from May.
The long-standing rotation of the NATO military jets in the Baltics usually consists of 4 planes. However, it has recently been stepped up to 12, in response to rising tensions with Russia over Ukraine.
SHOTLIST:
British jets arrive in Zokniai NATO air base
Soundbite (English)
SIMON HULME, Chief of the British mission:
From the UK perspective we will be operating under the NATO, we are well trained and highly motivated and we have very capable platform. So for us, it will be business as usual.
Soundbite (Lithuanian)
VIDMANTAS RAKLEVICIUS, Chief of the Zokniai Air Base:
At the moment – no problems, you have to remember that we act as an accepting country since 2004, so we are completely ready and well experienced to support NATO forces.
