Poland Takes Over as NATO Policeman of Baltic Airspace

Posted on: Dec. 30th, 2005 || Source: defensenews.com | E-mail Article | Print Article

Poland on Dec. 30 became the first former communist state to patrol the airspace of the Baltic states when it took over a NATO air police mission from the United States at a ceremony in Lithuania.

”I believe that this mission will be successful. Polish pilots are in charge of their own airspace, so they know how to do this job. And they also know the region well,” Lithuanian Defense Minister Gediminas Kirkilas told reporters after a handover ceremony at Zokniai air base in northern Lithuania.

Four Polish MIG-29 fighters and some 70 military personnel will be deployed in Lithuania. Two of the fighter jets, which were upgraded by NATO to meet the alliance’s standards, landed at Zokniai on Thursday, with another two arriving in Lithuania Friday.

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