The Vilkas Detachment completes its first month in the Baltic, serving to protect allied airspace

•  The eight Eurofighters from Wing 11 of the Spanish Air and Space Force constitute this air detachment, which has already carried out three air policing missions

The Vilkas Tactical Air Detachment (DAT) of the Spanish Air and Space Force has completed its first month of air patrol reinforcement in the Baltic, as part of the enhanced Air Policing-69 (eAP-69) mission, which protects the airspace on the eastern flank of the Alliance.

The bulk of the participating personnel, as well as the eight Eurofighter aircraft (C.16 in their military designation) belonging to Wing 11, based in Morón, became operational at the Siauliai Air Base at the end of July. Shortly after, an Airbus A400M tanker aircraft (TK.23) from Wing 31 in Zaragoza, was added in mid-August, hence increasing the range of the Spanish fighters.

DAT Vilkas operational missions

Since its activation, after taking over from a squadron of F-16s from the Romanian Air Force, DAT Vilkas has completed numerous missions, including three air policing missions (known as A-Scrambles) due to the presence of unidentified aircraft over the Baltic Sea.

In addition, 15 police training missions (T-Scramble), two deterrence missions and six force integration missions have been performed. This operational effort has contributed to the protection of Allied airspace and has provided an opportunity for training in a geographical and climatic area with a marked contrast from Spain. Flight conditions and flight parameters in this region are largely differ from those normally encountered by Spanish pilots and C.16 fighter jets.

Moreover, the tanker aircraft TK.23 has completed 20 in-flight refuelling missions, both for aircraft from the Vilkas detachment itself and for other Allied aircraft operating in joint missions.

In addition to these air operations, DAT Vilkas aviators have participated in Force Integration exercises, such as Furious Wolf, where Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) have coordinated air traffic from different NATO forces present in the area.

Finally, they have also trained using different weapons at a Lithuanian Air Force shooting range, with the aim of strengthening individual skills and improving techniques, thus enhancing operational integration of the security teams that conform the Spanish air detachment in Lithuania.

The eAP-69 mission is part of Operation Persistent Effort, launched following decisions agreed by NATO at its 2014 summit, with the aim of demonstrating the determination of its members to collectively defend the common and Allied space against any threat. Specifically, this detachment from Wing 11 represents the ninth participation of Spanish Air and Space Force from the Siauliai air base.

DAT Vilkas: Spain's contribution to air protection on the eastern flank

DAT Vilkas, which means wolf in Lithuanian, is an air tactical detachment of the Air and Space Force that contributes to reinforced air policing tasks on NATO's eastern flank.

This detachment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Holgado del Aguila, will operate between August and November 2025 from the Siauliai air base in northern Lithuania.

It is made up of almost 200 military airmen from up to 15 different units of the Air and Space Force, and has eight Eurofighter aircraft from Wing 11 (Morón de la Frontera, Seville) and one A400M refuelling aircraft from Wing 31 (Zaragoza).