Greek and Italian Fighters prepare for Montenegrin air policing

An Italian Air Force F-2000A Typhoon takes off from Ämari air base in Estonia during a BAP rotation earlier this year. 

Italian Ministry of Defence

Italy and Greece will begin flying NATO air patrols over Montenegro on June 5. Montenegro joined the alliance in June last year but since it lacks its own fighters, it has requested allies to help secure its airspace.

The mission over Montenegro is the latest air policing tasking staged by NATO to protect the skies of member nations that do not have their own fighter force.

Fighters from the Italian and Greek air forces will patrol Montenegrin airspace as required flying from bases in their home countries.

Under NATO regulations, alliance air forces must have at least two fighters on 24/7 readiness. Alternatively, allies with no fighter component can seek multinational solutions to guard their airspace. France, Portugal and Spain are currently part of the air policing mission over the Baltic States. Meanwhile, Hungary and Italy routinely help protect Slovenian airspace, while Greece and Italy support air patrols over Albania.

NATO air policing jets take to the skies in response to military or civilian aircraft in distress, or that do not follow international flight regulations and approach the airspace of NATO allies. Often, these aircraft fail to properly identify themselves, communicate with air traffic control or file flight plans.

A Greek F-16C returns to Andravida air base after a sortie during the Iniohos exercise that took place earlier this year. Hellenic Ministry of Defence

BAP mission latest

At the beginning of May, Portugal assumed responsibility as the lead nation for the 47th rotation of the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission safeguarding the airspace over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. France and Spain are augmenting the mission within the framework of enhanced Air Policing (eAP).

The Força Aérea Portuguesa (Portuguese Air Force) deployed four F-16AMs from Base Aérea No 5 Monte Real to Šiauliai, Lithuania, for the fourth time. The 90-strong detachment of pilots, ground crews and support personnel took over the mission from Denmark on May 2.

The Armée de l’Air (French Air Force) detachment at Ämari air base, Estonia, consists of four Mirage 2000-5Fs from Escadron de Chasse 1/2 ‘Cigognes’ and around 100 personnel from their home base at Luxeuil. This is the seventh time French fighters have conducted the BAP assignment.

Finally, an Ejército del Aire (Spanish Air Force) Eurofighter detachment of six jets and approximately 130 personnel from Ala 11 at Morón has also deployed at Šiauliai.  Spain led the BAP mission in 2006 and 2016 and augmented it out of Ämari in 2015 and again last year, making this the fifth tour to the Baltics.