Four Polish air force RSK MiG-29A fighters assumed responsibility for NATO's Baltic air policing mission at Lithuania's Šiauliai air base on 26 April.
Comprising 99 personnel, including eight pilots from the 41st Tactical Air Squadron at Krolewo Malborskie air base, Warsaw's "Orlik 4" contingent took over the duty from the German air force's JG71 squadron. This had deployed McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantoms to Šiauliai for the past four months.
The MiG-29As are armed with R-60MK (AA-8 "Aphid") air-to-air missiles.
To run until 31 September, the Orlik 4 detachment will cost Poland about 6.5 million zlotys ($2 million), the nation's defence ministry says. Its air force has previously held responsibility for protecting the airspace of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania during other MiG-29 detachments made in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
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© Lithuanian air force Polish air force MiG-29s (back) take over NATO's Baltic air policing mission from German air force McDonnell Douglas F-4F Phantoms (front) |
Source: Flight International
