Germany, Hungary & Italy's aircraft to start patrolling Baltic States' skies from August 1

As surveillance aircraft from seven NATO countries have been holding air-to-ground warfare drills over Romania, fighter jets from Germany, Hungary and Italy are rey to take up air patrols over Baltic region as part of NATO’s air policing mission on August 1, Monday.

Four Hungarian JAS-39 fighter aircraft and some eighty personnel will le mission out of Šiauliai air base in Lithuania, while four German Eurofighter aircraft will fly out of Ämari in Estonia tomorrow, according to NATO, to patrol Baltic state's skies. y will be joined by Italian Eurofighters based in Malbork, Poland to perform sorties over NATO member states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as  threat of Russian aggression in neighbouring countries looms large following invasion of Ukraine. 

In accordance with NATO’s air policing mission, fighter jets from member states will take to skies when aircraft near Allied airspace "do not follow good airmanship procedures." This may include tabling a flight plan and communicating with air traffic control.

“NATO air policing is a clear example of Alliance solidarity in action,” NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said in a statement. “At a time when European security has been fundamentally altered by Russia’s war against Ukraine, NATO fighter jets remain rey around clock to protect Allied airspace. We are always vigilant," she ded. 

New Air Force contingents to replace Belgian, French and Spanish unit

NATO nation's new Air Force contingents will replace Belgian, French and Spanish units that have been patrolling region since April, a month after Moscow troops launched an assault, jeopardising European and Transatlantic regional security. Czech fighter jets based at Šiauliai station will continue ir deployment throughout summer, NATO clarified. "Allies have taken turns guarding skies over Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania since y joined NATO in 2004, as three countries do not have ir own fighter aircraft," Western military Alliance furr informed. 

"Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, NATO has furr bolstered air patrols in eastern part of Alliance, with ditional aircraft," according to NATO. 

Elsewhere, Romanian F-16s, French Rafales, and German Torno jets as well as US EA-18 fighter aircraft also launched from USS Harry S. Truman carrier in Mediterranean. In response to Russia's war in Ukraine, NATO, in recent months has significantly strengned its military presence in eastern flank of Europe and Baltic region, with more troops, maritime presence, and aircraft on patrol.