Six USAF F-35 Deployed to Baltic and Black Sea Region to Support NATO's Eastern Flank

Six U.S. F-35A Lightning II fighter jets deployed from Germany to multiple countries on NATO’s eastern flank on Thursday for air policing flights in solidarity with the transatlantic alliance. 

They’ll disperse alongside F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-15 Eagle fighter jets across Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Romania, U.S. Air Forces in Europe said. 

The presence of the Air Force’s most advanced fighter jet signals a swift response if Russia expands its offensive outside Ukraine’s borders and into NATO countries. The F-35A can act as a quarterback to pass targeting information and other data between other U.S. and NATO fighters in the region, should the alliance need to react quickly to Russian aggression. The six F-35As come after the Defense Department promised on Tuesday to send up to eight Lightning IIs that had arrived at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany from Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Two of the F-35 jets arrived in Estonia, two arrived in Lithuania and two arrived in Romania. The aircraft are in operation from Estonia’s Amari Air Base, Lithuania’s Siauliai Air Base, and Romania’s Fetesti Air Base. 

airforcetimes

Spain prepares to take lead for Baltic Air Policing mission

Spain is to take over responsibility for leading NATO's Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission, with four Boeing EF-18M Hornet fighters recently arriving at Šiauliai Airbase in Lithuania.
From 1 May the Spanish fighters of Wing (Ala) 15, based at Zaragoza, will be supported by UK Eurofighter Typhoons also operating out of Šiauliai Airbase, and by French Dassault Mirage 2000s flying from Ämari Airbase in Estonia.
These three nations will conduct air policing of Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian airspace through to the end of August, at which time they will be relieved by other NATO members.
The NATO BAP mission is part of a wider enhanced air policing mission that includes the recently constituted southern air policing mission based in Romania, as well as similar missions that cover Albania, Belgium, Iceland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Slovenia.
janes

Pilot Error Behind Firing of AIM-120C in Estonia During Nato Baltic Air Policing

An internal Spanish military investigation has concluded that the accidental firing of an air-to-air missile in Estonian airspace by a NATO jet on 7 August resulted from pilot error, according to Spanish daily El País, quoted in Estonian daily Postimees.
While the overall investigation into the incident continues, anonymous military sources claim that fault lies with the pilot in the misfiring of an AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), from a Spanish Airforce Eurofighter Typhoon.
The paper claims that investigative tests show the pilot initiated the missile firing sequence during training. Normally, safety mechanisms should stop the actual launching in such cases, so the incident is reportedly rare.
However, weapons systems on the Typhoon multi-role, multi-national fighter are particularly complex and varied.
The missile was fired over Pangodi village, near Tartu, and is thought to have impacted in or near the Endla bog, about 100 km north. The Estonian/Russian border lies about 60 km east of Pangodi. The plane was flying at around a 6,000-metre altitude at the time.
Six hundred hectares of Endla bog was searched in the following days using equipment, with a further 200 hectares checked visually, yielding no trace of the missile or its debris. No reported casualties or material damage resulted from the incident, though brush fires broke out in the aftermath of impact.
Other investigations into the misfiring are still ongoing.
news.err.ee

Twelve USAF A-10Cs landed at Amari Air Base, Estonia

Twelve A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and approximately 350 Airmen from the 74th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron arrived at Amari Air Base, Estonia September 21, as part of a theater security package deployment in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.
The Airmen and aircraft, deployed from the 23d Wing out of Moody Air Force Base, Ga., will augment the U.S. Air Forces in Europe's existing efforts as part of OAR to conduct training with NATO allies to further develop interoperability and demonstrate U.S. commitment to the security and stability of Europe.
af.mil

Two USAF F-22 Raptors land in Ämari Air Base, Estonia

Two F-22 Raptors of the 95th Fighter Squadron out Tyndall AFB in Florida landed in Ämari Air Base at noon.
news.err.ee

RAF fighter jets scrambled to intercept Russian Il-20 spy plane in Baltic

RAF Typhoon jets were scrambled to intercept a Russian spy plane flying close to Estonian airspace.
The two RAF planes, which are currently policing the Baltic skies, were alerted after the Russian Ilyushin IL-20 Coot surveillance aircraft was spotted.
The incident took place in international airspace.
express

Images of Spanish Eurofighter Typhoons intercepting Russian SU-34 over the Baltic

Norway to send F16s to the Baltic

Norwegian F16 fighter jets will start flying over the Baltic next month and through the summer, to help NATO with routine patrols of the airspace over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The move comes at a time when neighbouring Russia has been flexing its military muscle in the area.
Norway’s participation in the NATO operation will run through August.
newsinenglish

Italian Typhoons Jets Scramble to Intercept Russian IL-78 Fuel Tanker Over Baltic Sea

Italian Eurofighter Typhoon jets protecting airspace over the Baltic states were deployed to intercept a Russian refueling aircraft over the Baltic Sea, Latvian National Armed Forces said via Twitter.
The IL-78 is an air-to-air refueling tanker and is part of a regiment based in western Russia's Ryazan Region nearly 200 kilometers southeast of Moscow.
Over the past few months, several NATO members have expressed concern over Russia's alleged violations of their airspace. The Russian Ministry of Defense retorted, however, that the Russian Air Force's routine flights are in compliance with international agreements and do not violate foreign airspace.
Moreover, the air force command criticized these allegations as distractions from NATO's military buildup in the Baltic region along Russia's western borders.
On Monday, over 120 armored units, including Abrams tanks and Bradley armored vehicles, arrived in Latvia from the United States. Similar equipment, including two groups of US paratroopers, is expected to arrive this week in neighboring Estonia to take part in joint military drills involving 13,000 soldiers.
The nearly year-long conflict in southeast Ukraine has served as justification for NATO's expansion in Eastern Europe.
sputniknews

Spanish Eurofighters arrive in Estonia for Baltic Air Policing

#Spanish Air Force Eurofighters and personnel have arrived in #Estonia to join #NATO Baltic Air Policing. pic.twitter.com/fqUHl2PBTD
— Canada at NATO (@CanadaNATO) December 31, 2014

NATO Fighters scrambled as Russian spy plane violates Estonian air space

A Russian intelligence aircraft briefly crossed into NATO airspace earlier this week, NATO said Wednesday.
The NATO’s radars detected an unidentified plane flying near NATO airspace in the Baltic Sea at about 9 a.m. CET on Tuesday. Danish F-16 fighter jets were scrambled, as were Portuguese F-16s that were part of NATO’s air policing mission over the Baltics. They were assisted by fighters from Sweden.
The Russian plane, an IL-20 intelligence collection aircraft, took off from Kaliningrad and flew over the Baltic Sea toward Denmark, NATO said, and it was met by aircraft from the three nations. As the IL-20 turned and headed south, it began approaching the airspace of Estonia, a NATO member.
The Russian aircraft entered Estonian airspace near the island of Saaremaa for less than one minute, an incursion of about 600 meters, NATO said. Portuguese F-16s made visual contact with the IL-20 and escorted it away from NATO airspace.
Russian officials denied the assertion. The Russian Defense Ministry told local news agencies that the plane had not violated Estonian airspace and was on a routine training mission from Kaliningrad in international airspace.
It’s standard procedure for NATO planes to scramble and intercept any unknown aircraft that approach NATO airspace. The Alliance said in a statement Wednesday that such flights are potentially dangerous, because Russian military planes often don't file flight plans or use their onboard transponders, leaving civilian air traffic control operators unable detect them or ensure they don't interfere with civilian air traffic.
wsj

Portugal takes over lead of Baltic Air Policing Mission

Portugal assumed responsibility for the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission on 1 September, taking over from Poland which has had the role with the support of the United Kingdom and Denmark since May.
Six Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa - FAP) F-16 have now begun operations out of Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania, supported by four Boeing F/A-18 (CF-18/CF-188) Hornets of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF).
This deployment (which includes Canada for the first time) marks the third NATO mission which has been strengthened with additional countries and aircraft because of the regional tensions between Ukraine and Russia.
While the previous two deployments saw extra US Air Force (USAF) Boeing F-15 Eagles, UK Royal Air Force (RAF) Eurofighter Typhoons, Royal Danish Air Force (RDAF) F-16s, and French Air Force Dassault Rafales added to the mission, this deployment will see the FAP F-16s and RCAF F/A-18s augmented by four-to-six Typhoons of the German Air Force operating out of Amari Airbase in Estonia, and four RDAF F-16s which will relieve the same number of French Rafale fighters at Malbork in northern Poland.
The heightened political tensions between NATO and Russia in recent months have seen a corresponding increase in military air activity near the Baltic states. During the previous air policing mission, UK Typhoons intercepted multiple Russian aircraft on 17 June, including a Tupolev Tu-22 'Backfire' bomber, four Sukhoi Su-27 'Flanker' fighters, one Beriev A-50 'Mainstay' early warning aircraft, and an Antonov An-26 'Curl' transport aircraft. It should be noted, however, that these all took place in international airspace.
janes

Royal Canadian Air Force begins Baltic Air Policing mission

The Canadian Air Task Force (ATF) officially joined NATO’s Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission following a hand-over ceremony yesterday in Siauliai, Lithuania, as Canada’s continues to promote security and stability in Central and Eastern Europe in the face of increasing Russian hostility.
Four CF-18 Hornet aircraft and more than 130 airmen and airwomen from the Royal Canadian Air Force will work with NATO Allies from September to December 2014, to preserve the integrity of the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and react to any intrusions.
The Canadian ATF recently relocated to Siauliai, Lithuania, from Câmpia Turzii, Romania, where they had conducted training with their NATO Allies from early May until August 22. The Canadian ATF arrived in Siauliai on August 26.
Based on the operational requirements for the BAP mission, four of the CF-18 Hornets which deployed to Romania were relocated to Lithuania to participate in BAP. Two Canadian aircraft will remain in Europe. The decision about the number of Canadian aircraft required for participation in BAP was made following planning and coordination with NATO and Canada’s Allies.
Portugal, Netherlands, Germany and Canada are all contributed forces to the BAP mission. Canada and Portugal will be operating side by side out of Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania.
The Canadian ATF based in Lithuania is composed of personnel from 2 Wing and 3 Wing Bagotville, Quebec; 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta; 8 Wing Trenton, Ontario;14 Wing Greenwood, Nova Scotia;17 Wing Winnipeg, Manitoba; and 22 Wing North Bay, Ontario. These personnel include aircrew and personnel who provide operational support to air assets, such as force protection, intelligence, aerospace management and maintenance coordination.
airforce.forces.gc.ca

Danish NATO warplanes land in Estonia amid Ukraine crisis

Four Danish F-16 landed in Estonia on Wednesday, marking the first time NATO planes will be stationed in the ex-Soviet state and Russian neighbor.
The aircraft and a supporting team of 60 people arrived at the Amari air base in the west of the Baltic state at a time when NATO is reinforcing its presence in the region to allay concerns triggered
Until now the Western defence alliance’s sole Baltic air base was in Siauliai in northern Lithuania.
Some 150 US troops also arrived in Estonia on Monday, part of a 600-strong force that Washington sent to Poland and the Baltics to reassure the region.
Britain also sent four Typhoon fighters to Lithuania this week, while Poland contributed four MiG 29s, and France sent four Rafale jets to Poland.
defencetalk

Russia Starts Combat Helicopter Training Flights on Baltic Border

A newly formed Russian army helicopter brigade has begun training flights in the northwest of the country near the borders with the Baltic states of Estonia and Latvia.
The flights involve dozens of Mi-28N Night Hunter and Ka-52 Alligator attack helicopters as well as Mi-8MTV-5 and Mi-26T.
The 15th army aviation brigade, formed in December and stationed at the Ostrov airbase, is fully equipped with new, recently-built helicopters. The brigade currently comprises three helicopter squadrons, with two more to be added in the near future.
Media in the former Soviet Baltic states, as well as Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom, have expressed security concerns about Russia’s decision to station the 15th brigade near NATO’s borders.
Russian Defense Minister earlier announced the beginning of military drills of units from the Southern and Western military districts near the borders with Ukraine and the Baltic states in response to an “unprecedented” increase of NATO military activity near Russia amid the Ukrainian crisis.
The combat drills come as NATO is ramping up its military presence in the region.
NATO Secretary General announced earlier this month that the alliance would intensify air patrols over Eastern Europe and dispatch extra ships to the Baltic and Mediterranean Seas due to the crisis in Ukraine.
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that NATO was attempting to use the Ukrainian crisis as an imaginary threat to unite the alliance’s members and to push for Moscow's isolation
ria.ru

United Kingdom dispatching 4 fighter jets to patrol airspace over Baltic states

Britain is dispatching four Typhoon fighter jets to patrol the airspace of Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
They will perform their patrolling mission alongside with six fighter jets of the Polish Air Force and will serve as a replacement for six F15 jets of the US Air Force.
British Defense Secretary said the Typhoons would support Poland’s contribution to the operation destined to calm down the apprehensions of easternmost member-states of the North-Atlantic pact.
The effort also involves more than 50 members of ground personnel.
itar-tass

USAF 48th AEG to validate Amari Estonian Air Base as NATO FOB

Airmen from the 48th Air Expeditionary Group recently took a trip to Amari Air Base, Estonia, to engage and certify the aircraft arresting system, taking a critical step toward validating the new NATO Forward Operating Base.
Barrier maintenance Airmen from the 435th Construction and Training Squadron at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, deployed to the 48th Air Expeditionary Group at Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania, travelled to Estonia for the third time to certify the aircraft arresting systems and work alongside fellow Estonian air force counterparts.
Two F-15C Eagles, originally from RAF Lakenheath, U.K., helped conduct the certification.
Fighters staged at each end of the runway took turns engaging the barrier by taxiing at about 130 miles per hour with their tail hook lowered so as to hook onto the cable, which gradually slowed the aircraft to a safe, complete stop.
The Air Force requires barrier engagement tests every 12 months if not engaged by a plane in a one-year time span.
usafe

4 Army units heading to Eastern Europe

The U.S. military in Europe is sending four company-sized infantry units, a total of about 600 soldiers, to Eastern Europe, the latest effort to reassure NATO allies in light of Russian aggression in Ukraine.
Four countries — Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia — each will receive a company of paratroopers from the U.S. Army’s 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team based in Vicenza, Italy.
U.S. European Command will maintain a rotation of ground forces in those countries for at least the next several months. The companies will conduct live-fire training exercises with local military forces for about one month, then will depart and be replaced by another U.S. Army company.
Last week NATO announced that it would have “more planes in the air, more ships on the water and more readiness on the land” but details of those additional operations have not been made public.
The Army deployment marks the first sustained addition of ground forces into Eastern Europe since Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine’s Crimea region began in late February.
The Pentagon expects to announce further U.S. troop deployments within NATO soon.
Last week, USA extended until the end of the year the deployment of about 200 airmen and Air Force F-16 fighters and C-130 cargo planes in Poland.
At Powidz Air Base, also in Poland, U.S. Air Force KC-135 tankers also are temporarily flying daily missions to refuel NATO-owned surveillance aircraft tracking Russian military movements along the eastern frontiers of Poland and Romania.
militarytimes

Canada Sends Fighter Jets To Eastern Europe

Canada is deploying six CF-18 fighter jets to Eastern Europe as part of NATO’s response to the worsening crisis in Ukraine.
NATO has increased air sorties and additional navy ships in the region as Ukrainian and pro-Russian forces face off.
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — which border Russia and have sizeable ethnic Russian populations — have all sought reassurances, as have Ukraine’s neighbors Poland and Romania.
Canadian minister said he is concerned about “expansionism on the part of Russia under the presidency of Mr. Putin.
“I believe this to be a long-term serious threat to global peace and security, and we’re always prepared to work with our allies in NATO and elsewhere to try and bring whatever stability we can to the situation.”
The United States has also sent fighter aircraft to the Baltic states and Poland, to bolster confidence in member countries once ruled by Moscow.
defensenews

Germany offers Typhoons to bolster Baltic air policing

Germany has offered to send six Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft to help bolster the NATO Baltic Air Policing Mission.
The offer has been made to support the Portuguese rotation of four Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcons, which is due to take place out of Siauliai Airbase in Lithuania from September to December. The German Typhoons may deploy to Amari Airbase in Estonia.
The news that Berlin has offered to bolster the mission follows similar offers made by the UK, France, and Denmark, in light of the Russian invasion and annexation of Crimea and the continued tensions with Ukraine.
With the US currently performing the role with 10 Boeing F-15C Eagle fighters, Poland is set to take over the rotation with four MiG-29 'Fulcrum' fighters from the beginning of May to the end of August.
The NATO official said that the UK's offer of four Typhoons to support the Poles has been accepted, as has the Danish offer of four F-16s (with a further two on standby in Denmark). The UK Typhoons will operate out of Siauliai Airbase alongside the Polish MiG-29s, while two Danish F-16s will fly from Amari Airbase on Quick Reaction Alert (QRA). The remaining two F-16s will be held in reserve and contribute to enhanced training exercises with the Baltic states.
A French offer of assistance involving either Dassault Rafale or Mirage 2000 fighters should see them operate out of Malbork Airbase in Poland. According to NATO, these French fighters will conduct air policing training, but will not be part of the Baltic mission.
Separately, Bulgaria has indicated that it is looking for increased air defence cooperation with its NATO neighbours Romania and Turkey. This follows a spike in QRA scrambles that has reportedly seen the Bulgarian Air Force intercept more Russian military aircraft in the last year than it has over the last 20 years combined. In March that Bulgaria had already agreed such cooperation with Greece.
janes