NATO sends AWACS surveillance aircraft to Lithuania to monitor Russian military activity
NATO will deploy AWACS long-range radar surveillance aircraft to the Lithuania (Photo: nato.int)
NATO will temporarily station Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft in the Lithuanian city of Šiauliai, NATO's press service reported.
The first of two aircraft will arrive today and carry out monitoring missions of Russian military activity near the Alliance's borders.
"Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has increased our focus on the security environment in the Baltic Sea region," said acting NATO Spokesperson Dylan White. "Our AWACS can detect aircraft and missiles hundreds of kilometers away, making them a key early warning capability for NATO. I thank Lithuania for hosting the aircraft. This is an important contribution to our shared security.," said NATO Acting Spokesperson Dylan White.
Due to Russian aggression against Ukraine, NATO has reinforced its air presence in the eastern part of the Alliance with fighter jets, surveillance aircraft, and tankers.
Last week, the United States deployed four additional F-16 fighters to Romania to strengthen NATO's air policing mission. This occurred after the discovery of debris from Russian drones in Romania.
Since February 2022, AWACS aircraft have conducted hundreds of flights over Eastern Europe to monitor Russian military aircraft.
AWACS aircraft will commence reconnaissance flights over Alliance territory in the coming days. The mission will last for several weeks.
NATO reports that these aircraft are part of a fleet of 14 observation planes owned by NATO and based in Geilenkirchen, Germany. Approximately 150 military personnel will arrive in Lithuania to support the aircraft.
