Unidentified aircraft intercepted in international airspace over the Baltic Sea
In the past 24 hours, two fighter jets F-35A Italians of TFA-32nd Wing, deployed at the Polish air base of Malbork within the scope of the additional measures implemented for the defence of the European skies on the Eastern flank of the’North Atlantic Treaty Organisation -“Enhanced Air Policing”- they took off twice following immediate take-off orders - Scramble - coming from the CAOC NATO Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem (Germany).
The activation of the two F-35s from the airframe of Quick Reaction Alert – Intercept she was requested as – on the mornings of 29 and 30 January – unidentified aircraft were flying in international airspace over the Baltic Sea near the borders of NATO.
The Italian F35 pilots, having taken off within minutes, intercepted and identified the aircraft and remained airborne protecting their designated airspace, returning to Malbork airport once the requirement had ceased.
Air Shielding, of which the permanent Air Policing (AP) device is an integral part, is a NATO-led collective defence mission managed by Allied Air Command (AIRCOM) in Ramstein (Germany) which is conducted seamlessly 365 days a year.
The activities carried out in “operational theatre” are conducted according to the directives issued by Interforce Summit Operational Command (COVI), which is the High Defence Command responsible for the planning, coordination and direction of joint exercises and operations at both a national and international level.
The 32nd Wing Air Task Force – made up of around 150 men and women from the Air Force – is placed under the direct national command of COVI (Joint Operations Summit Command) and ensures continuous control and safeguarding of NATO's north-east flank, deploying four F-35A Lightning aircraft in Poland on Quick Reaction Alert – Interceptor (QRA-I) status, thereby guaranteeing rapid intervention to protect Allied airspace.
