Portuguese F-16 fighters have been guarding the skies over the Baltic States for 4 months

The Portuguese Air Force began deploying to support NATO's air control in the Baltic in April 2024. And at the end of July, they will complete four intense months of flying dozens of real and training missions in the region.

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The four Portuguese F-16M fighter jets conducted numerous combat sorties, intercepting more than a dozen Russian military aircraft flying close to NATO airspace.

"As one of NATO's founding Allies, Portugal is honoured to continue our support for this important mission in the 75th year since NATO's founding - making this the 20th year of the Baltic Air Policing mission," said Lieutenant Colonel José Díaz, the detachment's commander.

During Portugal's last deployment to Lithuania in 2023, the F-16 pilots flew the mission alongside Romanian Air Force F-16s, and this year, together with their Spanish F/A-18 counterparts, they expanded NATO's air control capabilities in the Baltic Sea region.

It is worth noting that this is not the first time that the Portuguese Air Force has participated in an air control mission in the Baltic States. Their F-16Ms have led Baltic Air Policing five times (in 2023, 2018, 2016, 2014 and 2007) and reinforced it three times (in 2021, 2020 and 2019).

Source: Defence Industry Europe