RAMSTEIN, Germany – Around 100 French Air and Space Force aviators have been deployed to Lithuania since April 1 for NATO’s Baltic Air Policing 71 (BAP-71) mission, flying four Rafales from Šiauliai Air Base.
Interoperability isn’t just about plugging in the same connectors
The French detachment is contributing to the protection of the Baltic states’ skies under NATO command during the four-month deployment. On March 31, the French contingent took over from a Spanish detachment, continuing a mission NATO has maintained without interruption since 2004 to safeguard nations that do not have their own fighter aircraft for air defence.
Around 100 French Air and Space Force aviators are deployed to Lithuania in support of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing 71 (BAP-71) mission, flying four Rafales from Šiauliai Air Base. The French detachment is contributing to the protection of the Baltic states’ skies under NATO command. Photos courtesy of the French Air and Space Force.
From Šiauliai, the French crews operate alongside Romanian and Portuguese F-16 detachments as part of NATO’s peacetime air policing posture on the Alliance’s north-eastern flank. Since the start of the mission, French Rafales have been scrambled around 10 times to intercept Russian military aircraft flying in the Baltic area of responsibility without a flight plan or radio contact.
NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany, directs the launches and interceptions of the deployed aircraft in Lithuania.
The deployment is also focused on training with Allies. During the week of April 20, French Rafales and Romanian F-16s carried out air defence drills over the Baltic Sea, alternating between aggressor and defender roles in scenarios involving identification, manoeuvre and simulated engagement.
“Interoperability isn’t just about plugging in the same connectors,” a French pilot said after one mission, whose name remains protected to ensure personal security. “It’s about understanding how the other person thinks, what they see on their screen, where they’re going to position themselves. That comes from flying together.”
Cooperation extends beyond flying operations. On March 27, French weapons technicians carried out weapons removal training on Romanian F-16s as part of cross-servicing activities designed to improve interoperability and support Agile Combat Employment, NATO’s approach to more flexible and resilient air operations. Romanian mechanics are also due to work on French Rafales, broadening technical knowledge on both sides and reducing the logistical burden of operating together in theatre.