France, Spain and the UK take over NATO BAP mission
France, Spain and the UK have taken over the NATO Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission until August 2020.
Beginning on 1 May, the three NATO allies replaced detachments from Belgium and Poland which were previously charged with protecting airspace over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. British and Spanish aircraft will operate out of Siauliai AFB in Lithuania whilst the French detachment will be based in Amari, Estonia.
Oana Lungescu, a spokesperson at NATO, said: ‘This 24/7 mission demonstrates that our commitment to the security of our Allies is rock-solid and that our vital work goes on despite the coronavirus pandemic.’
BAP missions have been conducted since 2004 and have become strengthened since Russia annexed Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Russian aircraft are regularly intercepted with BAP aircraft being scrambled more than 200 times during 2019 alone.
More from Defence Notes
-
![US speeds up B61-13 nuclear bomb production as programme moves further ahead of schedule]()
US speeds up B61-13 nuclear bomb production as programme moves further ahead of schedule
The US government plans to accelerate production even further after achieving key B61-13 milestones months ahead of schedule, as the programme advances amid growing US-China strategic competition.
-
![Canada’s C$2 billion ACSV deal reinforces new defence industrial strategy as allies align]()
Canada’s C$2 billion ACSV deal reinforces new defence industrial strategy as allies align
General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada is the country’s first strategic partner under the Defence Industrial Strategy’s Strategic Partnership Framework, an effort to provide companies with confidence to invest and boost the defence labour force.
-
![New UK armed forces minister frames High North defence as vital to “homeland security”]()
New UK armed forces minister frames High North defence as vital to “homeland security”
The UK’s Minister for the Armed Forces Louise Sandher-Jones made her first appearance in the role before the House of Commons Defence Committee this week to highlight efforts to improve capability in the High North.
-
![Canada seeks to strengthen industrial ties with the US on classified programmes]()
Canada seeks to strengthen industrial ties with the US on classified programmes
Ottawa explores expanding defence-industrial cooperation with Washington into sensitive programmes, an approach that could reshape NORAD modernisation, strengthen North American supply chains and create new opportunities for defence contractors.
