The air contingent rotation ceremony, with the symbolic handover of the key to Baltic airspace, took place at the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania in the morning of 31 August in the presence of Lithuanian Minister of National Defence Juozas Olekas and Hungarian Defence Minister Csaba Hende.

Lieutenant-Colonel Tamás Fekete, commander of the Hungarian contingent took over the key which symbolises the responsibilities of the mission from Lieutenant-Colonel Ivan Anderson on behalf of the Norwegian air force and Colonel Vito Cracas on behalf of the Italian air force at the ceremony, following which he reported to his superiors: Hungarian pilots as well as the Hungarian technical and support personnel are ready to protect the air space of the Baltic countries.

At the ceremony, the Lithuanian Minister of National Defence thanked the Norwegian and Italian soldiers for the service they have rendered in the last few months, and welcomed members of the Hungarian contingent who will for the first time take part in the mission in the history of the protection of the Baltic countries’ airspace. In his speech, Juozas Olekas highlighted the significance of Lithuanian and Hungarian defence cooperation, and the exemplary cooperation which exists between the armies and air forces of the two countries.

Defence Minister Csaba Hende pointed out in his speech: Hungary as a member of NATO is committed to improving the capability of its armed forces so as to contribute to the common defence effort, in addition to the protection of Hungary itself. Baltic airspace has recently become one of the most complex airspaces of Europe, and perhaps of the whole of NATO, with special regard to the tense international situation which has evolved in consequence of the crisis in Ukraine.

“Hungarian soldiers are committed, highly qualified and fully prepared for leading the Baltic airspace defence mission”, the Minister stated. “The objective of the Hungarian contingent is to continue the excellent work rendered by the allies, and to make every effort for the peace and security of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.”

In addition to the four Hungarian JAS-39 Gripen fighter planes, four Eurofighters of the German air force will serve at the air base in Lithuania. The Hungarian contingent deployed on a rotational basis will number more than eighty persons, most of whom serve at the MH 59th Szentgyörgyi Dezső Air Base in Kecskemét.

NATO’s Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission is a good example of the division and utilisation of the Alliance’s existing capabilities. The Hungarian mission, which will last from September until the end of December, will be the 39th rotation of BAP conducted by the Alliance, and this is the first time that Hungary secures the airspace above Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania under the auspices and direction of NATO. Hungary is the 16th NATO Member State to take over the mission, thereby expressing its solidarity and unity with the Alliance.

Source: Ministry of Defence