Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/840553
All Baltic states are supported but NATO Allies because they lack of their own fighters due that fact, they are unable to form NATO air defense Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) which could intercept aircraft penetrating Allies' airspace or aircraft breaking the regulations in the international airspace such us flight with transponders switched off in flights over the Baltic Sea or planes without confirmed and accepted flight plan. In the early stage of NATO BAP, the Allied fighters flights were conducted from Lithuania's First Air Force Base in Zokniai/ Šiauliai International Airport, near the northern city of Šiauliai, halfway between Vilnus and Klaipėda. Lithuanians as the host nation were securing the stay of Allied forces by expanding the infrastructure of the main airbase with aircraft hangars, runways, taxi and other airport buildings. Since the increasing of Russian Air Forces activities in the area, the NATO Baltic Air Policying operation was also increased and NATO established a second location – the Amari Air Base near Tallinn, Estonia. Simultaneously, the number of deployments was increased from one to four. In 2014-2015 two fighter units (four aircraft each) were located in Šiauliai, one in Amari (four aircraft) and one in Malbork, Poland (four aircraft). The rotations of crews were four-month long. www.fragoutmag.com