November 2, after two months in service fighter-jets „Eurofighter" of German Air Force were replaced by „Phantom" F-4F on the NATO Baltic Air-policing mission.
Four „Eurofighter" fourth generation fighter-jets of the German Air Force Fighter Wing 74 returned to their permanent base in Neuburg a.d. Donau, state of Bavaria, after the Baltic Air-policing mission and their first deployment on an international mission beyond Germany's borders. Their substitute, six fighter-jets „Phantom" F-4F, came from Vittmund Air Base of the German Air Force in the Lower Saxony.
Rotation ceremony was held for the leaving and incoming fighter-jets at the Lithuania Air Force Air Base (Šiauliai): the flag of the State of Bavaria was hauled down and the leaving Commander of the Air Contingent Lt. Col. Danil Schlag handed over the symbolic key to the Baltic airspace to his successor Lt. Col. Juergen Schumann. The mission will be continued by around 100 troops of the German Air Force who will change shifts at a period of two-three weeks.
NATO Baltic Air-policing mission was for the third time transferred to German Air Contingent in August from Czech Air Contingent.
For the first time Germans were deployed on the mission from June to September of 2005, and their second deployment took place in June-September of 2008. Both preceding shifts of German air contingents guarded Baltic airspace with F-4F „Phantom" fighter-jets.
The NATO Baltic Air-policing mission has been conducted by the Belgian, Danish, British, Norwegian, Dutch, German, American, and Polish air components on a three-month rotation basis since NATO introduced it in 2004; Turkish, Spanish, Belgian, and French troops have been deployed to the mission on a four-month basis since spring 2006; servicemen of Romanian Air Force have been deployed in Lithuania for three months, Portuguese - one and a half month, Norwegian, Polish, and German air components - for three months each, and Danish and Czech Air Contingents - for four months. The German Air Contingent currently ensuring security of the Baltic airspace will also perform a four-month duty period.
Picture of A. Tamošiūnas (LAF AB).
