NATO and Partner aircraft meet at Siauliai for Training

ŠIAULIAI AIR BASE, Lithuania - The Baltic Region Training Event 22 (BRTE22) is underway at Šiauliai, Lithuania. The two-day event takes place today, 29th September and tomorrow, 30th September 2015.

Hungarian JAS-39 Gripen and German Eurofighter Typhoon jets, which are currently executing the Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission, will be joined by fighter and other aircraft from Lithuania, Norway, Poland and Partnership for Peace members, Finland and Sweden. These jets will fly several airborne scenarios in the Baltic airspace. Additionally, a NATO AWACS, a British Royal Air Force E-3D surveillance aircraft and a U.S. Air Force air-to-air refueller will also participate. Command and control of the flying activities is ensured by NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre at Uedem, Germany, the Baltic Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) at Karmelava, Lithuania, and the E-3 platforms.

Hungarian JAS-39 Gripen in a shelter – Hungary is presently the Lead Nation for the 39th rotation of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing - Photo by Christian Timmig, HQ AIRCOM PAO

The two-day event offers opportunities for Allied and Partner aircrew and ground controllers to train and practice standard interoperability, cooperation and coordination procedures. One scenario will involve a Lithuanian C-27 transport aircraft simulating a loss of communications in Estonian airspace. German Eurofighter jets will launch to intercept and identify the transport aircraft and then hand it over to the Hungarian Gripen jets, which will escort it back to Šiauliai. During other scenarios, aircrews and ground controllers will go through the routines for search and rescue missions after a simulated crew ejection and conduct practice diversions of aircraft to alternate air base. Air-to-air combat training and air-to-air refuelling will complete the training programme that will be repeated on the second day to allow a maximum training benefit for all participants.

In total, approximately 20 Allied and Partner aircraft are scheduled to participate.

Since 2008, the BRTE series of two-day training events has taken place three times a year to enhance relations among regional Air Forces and to further develop interoperability. Major goals of the training events have been to train NATO’s rotational BAP assets as well as aircraft controllers in the Baltic CRC and hone cooperation with Partners.

Story by HQ AIRCOM Public Affairs Office