Belgium to take over Baltic air policing

Belgium will take over NATO's Baltic air policing mission in August, the council of ministers of the Belgian government decided on June 14. Four Belgian F-16s will police the airspaces of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the latter's Siauliai air base from the end of August to the beginning of January, writes Aviation Week’ Nicholas Fiorenza. The Belgian detachment in Siauliai will number 50 personnel. An additional two Belgians will be based in the Baltic air policing control and reporting centre in Karmelava, Lithuania. The Belgians will relieve four French Mirage F1CRs which have been conducting the Baltic air policing mission since the end of April.