Slovak F-16 fighter jets will be deployed to patrol Baltic Sea airspace as part of a NATO mission to protect territories on the Alliance’s eastern flank.
The announcement was made by Slovakia’s Defence Minister, Robert Kaliňák, during a conference in Poland, according to the website Future Army. The deployment of the aircraft to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia is scheduled for the end of 2027.
The mobilisation is part of NATO’s Air Policing mission, which aims to protect allied countries on Europe’s eastern flank. As part of the operation, allies typically deploy four fighter jets and between 50 and 100 technicians and flight personnel.
Troop rotations in the Baltic region last three to four months, providing protection for countries that do not have their own air forces. The Alliance has long used this mechanism to protect the territories of individual member states.
For example, Luxembourg’s airspace is defended by the Belgian Air Force, while Albania and Slovenia are protected by Italian aircraft. Currently, Slovakia’s airspace is defended by neighbouring NATO countries: the Czech Republic, Poland and Hungary.
The measure will remain in force until the Slovak F-16s are fully operational. Slovakia has already received all 14 units of the F-16 Block 70, although four are still in the United States for pilot training.
Photo: 21st Tactical Air Base Čáslav. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
