Monday 3rd August two Eurofighter Typhoon of the Task Force Air “Baltic Thunder III”” of the’Italian Air Force they took off from the air base of Šiauliai, in Lithuania, on the orders of Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) of the NATO in Uedem, Germany, to intercept two Russian military aircraft flying in international airspace above the Baltic Sea.
Having reached the intervention area, the crews of the’Italian Air Force they identified and intercepted the aircraft, operating in full compliance with the procedures laid down by’North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
The project represents the first gear start of the Italian contingent since the start of the current mandate in Lithuania and confirms that the Task Force Air, committed to ensuring the surveillance and defence of the airspace of Estonia, Latvia e Lithuania as part of the mission NATO Baltic Air Policing, thereby contributing to the security of the Alliance’s eastern flank.
The event on 3 August forms part of Italy’s new commitment to NATO Baltic Air Policing, formalised on 31 July with the launch of the task force “Baltic Thunder III” at the helm of the mission. With this new mandate, Italy is renewing its contribution to the Alliance’s collective defence, strengthening the security of NATO’s eastern flank whilst, at the same time, helping to safeguard national security.
Over the coming months, Italian Air Force personnel and aircraft will guarantee the surveillance of the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the Šiauliai air base.
The Baltic Air Policing (BAP) it is a permanent defensive mission, launched by NATO in April 2004 following the entry of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania into the Alliance. Since the three countries do not have sufficient national capabilities to independently ensure the surveillance and defence of their airspace, Allies on a rotational basis ensure the presence of fighter aircraft, crews and support personnel. To date, 17 Allies have participated.
Operations in Lithuania are conducted under the command and control of the NATO Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Uedem (Germany), under the supervision of NATO’s Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) in Ramstein (Germany).
