March 24, troops of the French Air Force conducting NATO's Air Policing mission conducted training event - searched for a shot down pilot of a fighter-jet.
Plot of the exercise resembled an action movie: French Air Force pilot in „Mirage2000C" conducts reconnaissance task over an area were hostile forces are allegedly deployed. Fighter-jet is hit by counter-air missile weaponry and the pilot is forced to eject. Signal of onboard computer is allegedly sent to the French Air Contingent deployed in Šiauliai. Search team is airlifted by transport aircraft into the location of the incident and begins a search the member of the LAF Air Base acting as the shot down pilot.
The search team of the French Air Contingent invoked Belgian shepherd Rusty. The dog found traces shortly and led the search team to the pilot. Having finished that part of task successfully the team retreat, fall into an ambush, counter it without major damage and continue movement into the secure area.
French soldiers conduct such training to practise searching for pilots in unfamiliar territory, and combat firing. The present event held at NDVF the 3rd Firing Range of Žemaičių Military District (Pagudonės Military Area (Telšių Distr.). was the sixth combat firing exercise for this rotation of the French Air Contingent.
French forces are in charge of the Baltic Air-policing mission for a second time (the first rotation performed the mission in 2007). Majority of 140 French troops in the shift come from the 103rd Air Base of the French Armed Forces. French rotation will end their duty in the Baltic States and will be replaced by Polish troops in the end of April.
Article based on information of SWO Alvydas Tamošiūnsa (Air Base)
Pictures by Sgt. Justinas Didas
