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Spain leads NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission

Natochannel

May 25, 2020 | 6:24

The Spanish Air Force assumed command of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission in early May, helping ensure the safety of the skies over the Baltic region.

While we continue to take all the necessary measures to protect our armed forces, our operational readiness remains undiminished. Our forces remain ready, vigilant, and prepared to respond to any threat. The Spanish Air Force assumed command of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing Mission in early May. Since then, their detachment’s six F/A-18 Hornet fighters – augmented by Typhoons from the UK Royal Air Force and Mirage 2000 fighters from the French Air Force – have flown training sorties and interceptions over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Air policing scrambles can be triggered when civilian or military aircraft flying over or near Allied air space fail to respond to air traffic controllers or respect safe aviation norms. NATO has established air policing arrangements for Allies without their own fighter jets. NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission began in 2004, when Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania joined the Alliance. Footage includes shots of training scrambles flown by Spanish fighters, shots of French Mirage 2000 fighters, and an interview with the detachment commander.