Logo Defense aerospace
Home > Latest news > Romania to Deploy F-16s to Lithuania for Baltic Air Policing

Carpathian Vipers Receive Operational Order

(Source: Romanian Air Force; issued March 14, 2023)
(Unofficial translation by Defense-Aerospace.com)
A March 14 ceremony marked the establishement of the Romanian Air Force's "Carpathian Viper" detachment that will deploy to Lithuania to assume the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission from April to July. (Romanian AF photo)

The ceremony of handing over and receiving the operational command of the Romanian Air Force detachment "Carpathian Vipers" which will provide the reinforced Air Police Service in the Baltic countries took place on Tuesday, March 14, 2023, at the 86th Air Base "Air Lieutenant Gheorghe Mociorniţă".

The Romanian contingent that is to be deployed outside the national territory came, starting today, under the operational command of the Commander of the Joint Forces Command, the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe (SACEUR) and continues to be under the administrative command of the Chief of the General Staff of the Air Forces.

The ceremony was held in the presence of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Viorel Pană and the Commander of the Joint Forces Command, Lieutenant General Dorin Ioniță.

The detachment of four multi-role F-16 combat aircraft and the designated personnel, which bears the honorary name "Carpathian Vipers" will be deployed at the Šiauliai Air Base, in Lithuania and will provide the reinforced Air Police mission in the Baltic countries between April and July 2023, the rotation of pilots and technical staff taking place after two months.

The mission of the detachment is to protect the integrity of the airspace of the Baltic States and is a fundamental component of NATO's commitment to its members.

F-16 fighter jets continuously provide early warning and intervention to clarify the air situation, applying legal measures against aircraft using unauthorized Baltic airspace.

The "Carpathian Vipers" detachment is led by Commander Cosmin Vlad, a fighter pilot with experience in national and international missions. In his speech during the ceremony, he declared that: "A complex mission awaits us, full of challenges generated on the one hand, by the geopolitical context dominated by the aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and on the other hand, by the novelty of the deployment of Romanian F-16 aircraft in an operating theater. I am aware of the responsibility that we all have in successfully carrying out this undertaking and I strongly believe that we are ready and will fight in the manner we have trained for all this time.

“The experience gained in the execution of the Air Police Permanent Combat Service in the country, as well as the tasks performed at high standards in the multinational exercises, provide the certainty of a mission that will be successfully accomplished."

This is the second mission of the Romanian Air Force in Lithuania, the first time being in 2007, when the air police combat service was provided with four MiG-21 LancerR aircraft. Through the participation of the Air Force in the reinforced air police mission in Lithuania, Romania supports the already created image of a reliable NATO ally and an important partner for strengthening NATO's long-term deterrence and defense posture on the eastern flank.

-ends-

-ends-

You could also be interested in :