Spain takes over NATO´S air policing mission in Lithuania

The Vilkas Tactical Air Detachment (DAT) returns to the Šiauliai Air Base to contribute to the safeguarding of the NATO airspace

 The Vilkas (DAT) of the Spanish Air and Space Force (SASF) has taken over from the Romanian Air Force to carry out NATO air policing operations in Lithuania, officially known as enhanced Air Policing (eAP).

In a ceremony held at Šiauliai Air Base, the commanders of the Polish and Romanian detachments, which made up Block 68, symbolically handed over responsibility for the mission to the Block 69 commanders, Hungary and Spain respectively. On this occasion, Spain is contributing with eight Eurofighters, while Hungary is deploying four JAS 39 Gripen fighters and is leading the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission from Šiauliai.

The handover ceremony was attended by the Spanish Ambassador to Lithuania, José Fernando Fernández-Aguayo Muñoz, the Deputy Head of Mission of the Embassy, Alejandra Rubio del Barrio, and the Defence Attaché of the Armed Forces, the Navy and the Air and Space Forces, Colonel Manuel González Calvete. The NATO’s Operations Command was represented by Colonel Antonio Miguel Romón Almansa, while Colonel César Miguel Pérez Moriano, Commander of the Morón Air Base and 11th Wing, represented the Spanish Air and Space Force.

During his speech, Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Holgado del Águila (SASF), Commander of Vilkas Detachment, thanked the host nation, Lithuania, for its support in facilitating the contingent's settling down and integration into the mission, while emphasising that the main aim is to collaborate in preserving and safeguarding the integrity of the Alliance members’ sovereign airspace. He also pointed out that "the Spanish Armed Forces are modern, professional, highly trained and capable of operating in a wide range of scenarios. Moreover, they are equipped with the latest technology and maintain a high degree of readiness”. With these parameters in mind, and to demonstrate our commitment to collective defence, “we have deployed eight of our most advanced weapon systems, together with all the necessary equipment, which will remain here for the next four months" at the service of the Alliance.

At the end of the ceremony, the military personnel of DAT Vilkas returned to the operational area of the air base for the preparing and arming of the aircraft, which have already been integrated into the Baltic countries' air policing mission. 

The Vilkas Tactical Air Detachment (DAT)

The enhanced Air Policing (eAP) is part of the security measures that the NATO included in 2014, complementing the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission, which began in 2004. With this air reinforcement, the Alliance demonstrated its collective commitment to deter and defend its eastern flank before any attack or threat.

As a sign of its sustained commitment to its allies, Spain started taking part in BAP in 2006. Currently, the DAT Vilkas consists of eight Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon (C.16) from the 11th Wing in Morón de la Frontera and some 150 airmen from up to 15 different units of the Spanish Air and Space Force.

The detachment's activity is guided, on the one hand, by its main air policing mission, with the detachment's means fully integrated into the air defence systems of the NATO and the Baltic states, and, on the other hand, by flight training in this area in order to maintain and improve the capabilities of the aircrew. 

 The Vilkas Detachment will be reinforced with the integration of a TK.23, an Airbus A400M in-flight refuelling aircraft of the 31st Wing.