By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew 48th Fighter Wing
ŠIAULIAI AIR BASE, Lithuania, Aug. 31, 2017 — The U.S. Air
Force assumed control of NATO's Baltic air policing mission from the Polish air
force during a handover ceremony here yesterday.
About 140 airmen and seven F-15C Eagles deployed to
Lithuania as part of the 493rd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron from Royal Air
Force Lakenheath, England.
"I'm excited as a NATO air chief and I'm excited as a
U.S. citizen to welcome the 493rd from the 48th Fighter Wing, an F-15C
squadron, to serve the next rotation of Baltic air policing," said Air
Force Gen. Tod D. Wolters, commander of NATO Allied Air Command and U.S. Air
Forces in Europe. "It is the U.S.'s fifth opportunity to rotate and serve
the region, and I know that all of our maintainers, operators, mission
supporters and that beautiful F-15C will do whatever it takes over the next 120
days to protect the beautiful sovereign skies above Lithuania."
Collective Defense Mission
NATO air policing is a peacetime collective defense mission,
safeguarding the integrity of the NATO alliance members' airspace. Baltic air
policing is part of NATO's "Smart Defense" model, which incorporates
allied nations, conducting operations through shared capabilities and
coordinated efforts to effectively accomplish missions.
"We know that all of NATO stands alongside us in
defense of our shared values and principles," said Vytautas Umbrasas,
Lithuania's vice defense minister.
"I speak on behalf of every U.S. airman here, when I
say that it is our honor to protect and defend the sovereignty of the Baltic
borders," said Air Force Lt. Col. Cody Blake, 493rd EFS detachment
commander. The 493rd EFS is slated to continue its current rotation through the
end of 2017.
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