RIGA, Sep 09, BNS – The United States will take over the Baltic airspace patroling mission from Germany in October, USAF Commander in Europe Roger Brady said in reply to BNS’ question on Tuesday.
Germany began to police Baltic skies at the end of June.
NATO fighters based in the Zokniai air base in Lithuania have been guarding Baltic skies since Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania joined the alliance in 2004 because the three countries do not have aircraft suitable for the patroling missions.
Since then missions have been performed by Belgian, British, Danish, Dutch, French, German, Norwegian, Polish, Romanian, Spanish, Turkish and US airmen.
According to current plans, the alliance will continue patroling the Baltic airspace until 2011. However, Baltic defense commanders have asked NATO to extend the mission until 2018.
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