Šiauliai is the fourth largest city in Lithuania, with a population of 133,900. From 1994 to 2010 it was the capital of Šiauliai County.
EYSA Airbase
Šiauliai International Airport (IATA: SQQ, ICAO: EYSA) is indeed an airport located within Šiauliai Air Base, which serves as a major military facility for the Lithuanian Air Force. Additionally, it is one of the air bases involved in the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission. The airport is also historically known as Zokniai aerodrome and is situated approximately 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) southeast of the city of Šiauliai in northern Lithuania.
Needed: UK2000, Library2v14-cbj, Ethnicfs mil + obj
Key details about Šiauliai International Airport:
Ownership: The airport is owned and administered by the Lithuanian Armed Forces.
Facilities: It covers an area of 471 hectares and features two parallel runways.
NATO Air Base: Since 2004.
The first NATO F-16 jet fighters from the Belgian Air Component landed there in March 2004.
The Baltic Air Policing mission is a crucial component of NATO’s air defense strategy, specifically aimed at safeguarding the airspace above the three Baltic countries: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Here are the key details about this mission:
Objective and Execution:
The mission’s primary objective is to maintain Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) readiness for air defense. This means having fighter aircraft and crews on standby 24/7, 365 days a year, ready to respond swiftly to any potential airspace violations.
The Baltic Air Policing mission is purely defensive in nature, focused on ensuring the integrity of the airspace over the Baltic States.
Air Policing Areas:
The airspace over the Baltic region is divided into two Air Policing Areas (APAs):
APA 1: Previously controlled by the CAOC Finderup in Denmark (deactivated in 2013).
APA 2: Currently controlled by the CAOC Uedem in Germany.
NATO member countries without their own Air Policing assets receive assistance from other NATO members:
Luxembourg is covered by interceptors from Belgium.
Slovenia is covered by the Italian Air Force.
Albania is covered by both Italian and Greek aircraft.
Deployment and Rotation:
Since March 2004, when the Baltic States joined NATO, the mission has been conducted on a three-month rotation basis.
Initially, the rotations were based at Zokniai Air Base in Lithuania. Starting from 2014, they shifted to the Ämari Air Base in Harju County, Estonia.
More recently, rotations have changed to a four-month basis.
Usual deployments consist of four fighter aircraft along with 50 to 100 support personnel.
Training and Standardization:
To ensure safe and professional Air Policing performance, adequate training is essential.
Headquarters Allied Air Command Ramstein introduced a series of training events, formerly known as Baltic Region Training Events, now referred to as Ramstein Alloy Home.
These events capitalize on experienced aircrews deployed to Šiauliai and offer superior training for the Estonian, Latvian, and Lithuanian air forces and control facilities.
Since the inception of the Baltic Air Policing mission in March 2004, there have been several incidents related to safeguarding the airspace above the Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Here are some key points:
Intercepts and Scrambles:
NATO aircraft routinely intercept Russian military aircraft near the Baltic States, especially when these aircraft fail to adhere to international air safety norms.
In 2019, Allied jets attached to NATO’s Baltic air-policing mission scrambled approximately 200 times to safeguard allied airspace1.
Specific Incidents:
While the overall number of incidents varies, it’s essential to recognize that the mission involves continuous vigilance and readiness.
For instance, in June 2014, there was a notable spike in intercepts over the Baltic Sea, but the total number of incidents has been ongoing.
Additionally, in 2013, the Baltic patrol was called in when the Swedish Air Force was unable to respond to a simulated attack by Russian bombers against Stockholm.
In summary, the Baltic Air Policing mission remains active, with NATO member nations collaborating to ensure the security and integrity of Baltic airspace.
The Baltic Air Policing mission involves deploying fighter aircraft to guard the airspace above the three Baltic countries: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. These aircraft are part of NATO’s Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) system. Here are some details about the types of aircraft typically deployed for this mission:
Belgian F-16s:
Role: Leading the Baltic Air Policing mission.
Base: Operate out of Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania.
Mission: Ensuring rapid response readiness for air defense.
Support: Assisted by German Eurofighter aircraft from Ämari Air Base in Estonia1.
German Eurofighters:
Role: Supporting the mission.
Base: Operate from Ämari Air Base in Estonia.
Objective: Safeguarding Baltic airspace.
Collaboration: Work alongside the Belgian F-16s to maintain vigilance and readiness.
These aircraft rotations typically consist of four fighter jets, accompanied by 50 to 100 support personnel. Their primary task is to ensure the security and integrity of the Baltic States’ airspace, responding swiftly to any incidents.
Let’s explore the future of the Baltic Air Policing mission:
Current Situation:
Currently, air policing is performed primarily from the Šiauliai airfield in Lithuania, which has been recently renovated and improved. It operates 24/7 to ensure the security of Baltic airspace.
Upcoming Changes:
Ämari Air Base in Estonia, which has been a key hub for the mission, is undergoing reconstruction.
As a result, the NATO allied air policing of the Baltic region is set to move from Estonia to Latvia and Lithuania during 2024.
This shift reflects NATO’s operational flexibility in the region and ensures continued air defense readiness.
The relocation will allow for necessary base upgrades while maintaining the mission’s effectiveness.
Rotation and Leadership:
The 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, which assumed the lead role from Germany in NATO’s combined Baltic Air Policing mission in April 2023, will continue its duties until August 2023.
Following that, the Spanish Air Force will take over with eight Eurofighters and one Airbus A400M3.
Additionally, other Eurofighter Typhoon squadrons, including the German Air Force, will continue to contribute armed patrol flights over Lithuania from various bases3.
In summary, while Ämari Air Base undergoes reconstruction, the Baltic Baltic mission remains dynamic, adapting to changes and ensuring the safety of Baltic skies.
Recent Deployments:
In 2023, members of the 140 EAW were deployed to Ämari Air Base in Estonia.
Their mission involved conducting Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) intercepts of Russian aircraft transiting close to NATO airspace.
A squadron of RAF Typhoon fighter jets was part of this deployment, ensuring rapid response readiness.
In summary, the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing has a rich history and continues to contribute to air defense and security operations in the Baltic region.