Mar
Spain is currently leading the “Baltic Air Policing” NATO operation
A group of twenty students of USAF's Air War College had the opportunity to learn about the tasks carried out by the Spanish Air Force "Vilkas" Detachment in the NATO "Baltic Air Policing" operation.
On Sunday, March 6, the group arrived at the headquarters of the Siauliai air base in Lithuania. The students participate in the 2016 regional culture program of the Air War College.
The visit started with a welcome briefing by the chief of the Siaulai air base, Colonel Marius Matulaitis, followed by a presentation given by the commander of the Spanish Air Force detachment, Lieutenant Colonel Juan A. Ballesta, who explained the purpose of the NATO-led "Baltic Air Policing" operation, as well as the role assigned in this context to the Spanish contingent deployed in the Lithuanian base.
After those presentations, Lieutenant Colonel Ballesta accompanied faculty and students of the Air War College (AWC) in a visit to the facilities of the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) assests, all the way to the hangars assigned to the Spanish C.16 Eurofighter assigned to the operation. Pilots, maintenance personnel and the commander himself explained the Spanish Eurofighter capabilities and responded to multiple questions posed by the American students.
After a group photo was taken, the visit continued in the QRA building, where the pilots of the deployed C.16 briefed the group on the flight equipment and its performance.
Baltic Air Policing is a NATO operation framed on the principle of collective defense, aimed at the protection of the airspace of NATO member countries which lack their own resources to carry out this mission.
Through the 'Vilkas' detachment, Spain militarily contributes to the collective security and defense, thus proving its commitment with the Alliance.
