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U.S. Air Forces in Europe is actively involved in supporting NATO’s commitment to collective security of the Baltic Region.
F-15C Eagles from the 493rd Fighter Squadron, 48th Fighter Wing at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, United Kingdom, are currently providing forces for NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission through the end of the year. In conjunction with this mission, a one-day Baltic Region Training Event took place at Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania, on Nov. 3. USAFE C-130Js from Ramstein and a NATO E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft from Geilenkirchen, Germany, also participated in the day’s events.
BRTE is an advanced, routine training concept to enhance interoperability, build capability and continue air integration of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It’s designed to sharpen NATO-wide standards in air policing and to hone air capabilities.
“The USAFE commitment to the air policing mission in the Baltic States through BRTE enhances our building partnership capability with participating nations,” said Gen. Roger A. Brady, USAFE and Allied Air Command Ramstein commander. “NATO members, including USAFE assets, provide their jets, pilots and supporting personnel on a rotational basis to the NATO air policing mission in the Baltic States, which do not possess air policing capabilities.”
General Brady agreed to conduct the training event at the request of Baltic region military representatives and on behalf of Headquarters Allied Air Command Ramstein to demonstrate alliance cohesion and reassurance at Siauliai.
“NATO reaffirms and reassures its commitment to the air sovereignty of member nations and is the most visible day-to-day reminder of alliance solidarity,” General Brady said. “This training event focuses on enhancing air interoperability among NATO air forces.”
The various airborne assets participating in the training event interacted with NATO air command and control facilities in Uedem, Germany, and Karmelava, Lithuania.
The C-130Js from the 37th Airlift Squadron, 86th Airlift Wing at Ramstein also conducted a tactical off-load at Siauliai Air Base.
“The tactical off-load is an all-weather, all-terrain method to get humanitarian or mission-essential goods immediately to the people on the ground,” said Maj. Enrique Hernandez-Medel, BRTE VII project officer at NATO’s air headquarters at Ramstein. “The C-130s can land on a short unimproved runway, off-load supplies with the engines running and take off again. Another aircraft can then follow to do the next off-load.”
Additionally, a C-130J simulated a loss of contact with the civilian Air Traffic Control agencies. The jointly-operated Control and Reporting Centre at Karmelava reported that incident to the Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem, which then ordered the F-15C Quick Reaction Alert (Intercept) at Siauliai to launch and check what was going on in the skies. During the whole event, NATO AWACS maintained radio links to the Control and Reporting Centre and the fighters for exchange of information.
“Everyone has a vital role to play in this,” said Maj. Rolandas Greibus, chief of operations planning of Lithuanian air force staff. “Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania appreciate that they benefit from the alliance solidarity, and we are proud to return our share to the joint effort by the staff we send to man the NATO Integrated Air Defence System.”
BRTEs are one-day training events organized by NATO’s Ramstein-based air headquarters to enhance regional air integration and exercise rotational QRA(I)s. The events are open to partner countries to participate. This is the seventh training event under the Baltic Air Policing umbrella.
“The mix of NATO member and USAFE air assets, plus the integration of the NATO Airborne Early Warning aircraft, is NATO at its best,” General Brady said. “Everyone is training as they operate.”
