Jan
The Vilkas Detachment of the Air Force is already operating from Lithuania
According to the rotation plan established by NATO in the collective defense framework, last January 7 took place the relay command of the Baltic Air Policing operation (BAP), whose leadership will be held by Spain during the first quarter of 2016.
For this, the Air Force has deployed the Vilkas Detachment at the Siaulai (Lithuania) airbase, consisting of four C-16 Eurofighter and one hundred and thirty military personnel, mostly from the Air Base Albacete's 14th Wing, and all operational and support equipment necessary for the air defense mission and quick reaction to patrol the Baltic airspace.
The ceremony was attended by Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister Antanas Valys, the Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD), Admiral Fernando Garcia Sanchez, and the Chief of the Air Combat Command, Lieutenant General Eugenio Ferrer Perez. Both the JEMAD and the head of the detachment, Lieutenant Colonel Juan Antonio Ballesta Miñarro, stressed the commitment to the Alliance and the Spanish involvement in the security of the Baltic countries.
Subsequently the solemn hoisting of the flag of Spain took place.
It should be noted that the first mission by a Spanish Eurofighter took place on the same day, January 7th, and the day before a simulation of pilots rescuing had been conducted by the Lithuanian and Spanish air forces. This is the third time that the Spanish Air Force is participant in the BAP operation, since Spain was the lead nation back in 2006, and later as supporting nation from Amari Air Base (Estonia) in the first quarter of 2015.
