NATO shifted Baltic air policing to air defence mission in August

NATO switched its Baltic air policing mission to an air defence mission in August, Lithuania’s Defence Ministry confirmed, LRT reported.

“NATO air policing mission fighter jets in the Baltic states were reclassified as fighters carrying out the NATO air defence mission and integrated into the broader NATO air defence mission,” the ministry said in a comment provided to BNS this week.

The ministry said the new model allows NATO air defence capabilities to be deployed more flexibly and quickly where they are most needed. The mission operates within NATO’s integrated air and missile defence system, which includes fighter jets, ground-based air defence systems, sensors, surveillance equipment and command structures.

According to the ministry, this enables a more effective response to various air threats, including aircraft, drones and different types of missiles.

Italy’s military contingent is currently carrying out the NATO air defence mission in Lithuania with fighter jets. The aircraft shot down a probably Russian drone that violated Lithuanian airspace over Kaišiadorys district on Tuesday night.

While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continues, Lithuania has reported possible air threats in recent months. However, this was the first time a drone had been shot down over the country. Similar incidents had previously occurred in Latvia and Estonia.

The decision to replace the Baltic air policing mission with an air defence mission was taken at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, in July. The fighters carrying out the mission are stationed in Lithuania and Estonia. NATO countries began sending troops and fighter jets to protect the airspace of the Baltic states in March 2004.