Baltic Air Policing by NATO

Protecting the Air Space of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia 2004-Prese

Nov 4, 2009

When the three Baltic States joined NATO in 2004, the next day member nations sent in air support to protect them.

The three Baltic States, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, formerly delivered the instruments of treaty ratification to join NATO on March 29, 2004.

The three Baltic States had only a few helicopters, prop-engined planes and trainers, but no combat jets. The next day a flight of four Belgian Air Force F-16AM Falcon interceptors arrived at the huge former Soviet air base at Zokniai outside of the Lithuanian city of Šiaulia for a three month deployment. The mission of these fighter jets were to police the airspace of the newest NATO member's from foreign intrusion. Zokniai was one of the best bases in the Soviet Air Force complete with 3500m (11,483ft) strengthened runways. It had formerly based Soviet MiG-29 and A-50 Mainstay "Awacs-ski" aircraft during the Cold War. The base's location, being almost in the geographic center of the Baltic States, made it an ideal choice for a quick reaction force. .

Operations of the NATO Contingent

The Belgian contingent from the 10th Tactical Wing in Kleine-Brogel commanded by Major Harold Van Pee immediately assumed a Quick Reaction Alert or "Plus 15" posture to where the 50 man ground crew kept warm fueled and armed fighters on the apron ready for pilots who were similarly on standby to man their craft and take to the skies within 15 minutes or less. Within a week the Kellavere, Estonia based Baltic States' Control and Reporting Centre (CRC), a joint air traffic control and surveillance network, was tied to the greater NATO Integrated Air Defence System (NATINADS). These two actions coupled to produce a valid air defense program. The first armed scramble was on June 2, 2004 when the ready aircraft were alerted to take off and intercept a non-responsive LearJet approaching the border. Since then more than 2000 Tango (training) missions and no less than 70 Alpha (actual) intercepts to date have been made including several against stray Russian military aircraft.

Subsequent NATO Rotations for Air Policing

The Belgian group was replaced by another four-plane flight group of F-16AMs, this time from the Royal Danish Air Force, on July 1, 2004. The rotations carried forth every three or four months (after 2006) and remain to this date. NATO members rotated 22 times with the responsibility with Belgium returning in 2006 and Denmark again in 2009. Norway sent their own F-16s twice to alternate with Falcons from Turkey, Portugal, Holland, and the United States. The RAF flew Tornado F.3's from Zokniai in the end of 2004. France and Spain sent their own Mirage fighters once each. The Czech Republic, proud of their new JAS-39C Gripen fighters, assumed the role from May-August 2009 of policing the Baltic air space. Demonstrating a true twist of history, former Soviet made aircraft have also protected the skies of the Baltic capitals. Polish Air Force MiG-29s were responsible for the air policing mission in three month tours in 2006 and 2008. Romania was anxious to prove its mettle as part of NATO contributed four 1970s era MiG-21bis-D's between the two Polish deployments. Germany, flying elderly but still lethal F-4 Phantoms and the new Eurofighter Typhoon made three rotations over the Baltic skies and is currently on their forth.

Not much has been mentioned of the fact that in another twist of fate, the Luftwaffe had flown combat missions from Zokniai during the Second World War into then Soviet Russia.

Sources

German Air Force to conduct once more NATO Air Policing over Baltic States German Air Force Press Release Cologne 8/24/2009

The copyright of the article Baltic Air Policing by NATO in Modern War is owned by Christopher Eger. Permission to republish Baltic Air Policing by NATO in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.