NATO exercises start in Baltic states
On Tuesday and Wednesday the 25th and 26th of April, NATO Ramstein Alloy air force exercises take place in Baltic air space, primarily over Lithuania, Delfi reports, citing the Lithuanian Defense Ministry.
The exercises will involve fighter jets from the Netherlands and Germany, which will take part in the NATO mission to patrol the Baltic airspace, aircraft from Poland and Norway, as well as transport planes from Lithuania, and US and NATO AWACS planes for air reconnaissance.
The participants in the exercises will rehearse intercepting planes, refueling in the air, search and rescue operations, as well as practicing diversions and approaches to the various Baltic air bases.
Additionally, the aircraft involved will also practice the COMLOSS interception procedure, a scenario in which a commercial aircraft loses contact with the ground operator, and must be identified in the air by NATO mission planes.
As reported previously, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are continuing the Baltic Battalion project. The intention is to enhance the security of the Baltic states, as well the security of NATO allies, with the help of the Baltic Battalion.