Colonel di Matteo pointed out during the ceremony. Italy is the first NATO Ally to contribute to the defensive peacetime mission in the Baltic Region for a whole year. The Italian Air Force has agreed to execute the 54th, 55th and 56th rotations of the mission besides performing Air Policing missions at home, over Albania, Slovenia and Montenegro.
On Monday, the German Air Force detachment, also flying Eurofighter jets, took over the augmenting role of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission; operating out of Ämari Air Base, Estonia, from the French Air Force. The French had deployed their Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ämari last May. As a long-standing contributor to the Air Policing mission in the Baltic region, Germany is scheduled to remain stationed at Ämari for another double deployment until the end of April 2021.
On 03 September, a German Air Force A-310 Multi-Role MRTT tanker aircraft arrived at Šiauliai Air Base. The temporary deployment allows the German Air Force Eurofighter detachment in Estonia to accomplish their mission even more effectively. Through air-to-air refuelling they can enhance their tactical flexibility in their whole area of responsibility over the Baltic States. Air-to-air refuelling capability is a key enabler for Air Power operations as extra fuel extends the on-station time of fighter aircraft considerably.
Story by JFC Brunssum Public Affairs Office