On the morning of August 11th, two fighter jets F-35 Italians from the Task Force Air – 32nd Wing, deployed to the Estonian air base of Ämari, already engaged in a training mission, were activated for a Scramble, while still in flight, with immediate order of CAOC NATO Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem (Germany).
The activation of the two Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) cell configurations was necessitated by an unidentified track in international airspace in the Baltic region, which falls under the responsibility of NATO.
The NATO Air Policing It is a peacekeeping mission aimed at preserving the security of the Alliance's airspace. It is a collective task that involves the continuous presence – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – of fighter aircraft and crews, ready to react rapidly to possible airspace violations. Its purpose is the defence of the skies of the’Alliance and deterrence towards possible threats to the security of NATO member countries. This mission is part of NATO's broader defence and deterrence arrangement called Air Shielding, managed by Air Command (AIRCOM) in Ramstein (Germany).
Baltic Air Policing, in particular, is a NATO mission in effect since April 2004; to date, 17 Allies have participated in safeguarding the airspace of the Baltic Republics: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. It is a mission with the aim of demonstrating the collective determination of the Allies to maintain a defensive, solid, and cohesive posture, deterring potential threats to the security of the competent regional area.
Since 2014, with the annexation of Crimea by Russia, NATO has reinforced its defensive and deterrence posture with enhanced Air Policing missionseAPon the eastern flank.
The 32nd Wing Task Force – Baltic Thunder III is participating in this eAP mission, assisting deployed allies in Lithuania in Šiauliai to safeguard Baltic airspace.
The’Italy participates in NATO Air Policing missions in defence of the Alliance's borders over the Baltic, Icelandic, Romanian, Bulgarian, Polish, Slovenian, Albanian, Montenegrin and Macedonian skies.
The Task Force Air at Ämari in Estonia it is equipped with F-35 aircraft from 32nd Wing of Amendola and from 6th Wing of Ghedi.The activities carried out in the Operational Theatre are conducted under the command and control of the Joint Operations CommandCOVIwhich is the High Defence Command responsible for planning, coordinating and directing joint and multinational exercises and operations.
