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NATO holds live-fire air policing drills over Baltic Sea

27th April 2020 - 15:30 GMT | by Shephard News Team

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NATO has held its Exercise Ramstein Alloy 20-1 air policing drill to train air crews in procedures and coordination between partner air forces.

Belgian and Polish F-16 fighter aircraft (pictured) were joined by a Lithuanian C-27 transport aircraft and one Mi-8 SAR helicopter, a German A400M air-to-air refueller, Finnish F-18C/D and Swedish JAS-39 Gripen fighters.

All participating platforms were deployed and controlled through the Control and Reporting Centres in Karmelava and Tallinn.

A shared NATO E-3A AWACS platform was also operated to support the fighter aircraft.

On the first day, the central scenario involved an air force scramble after a COMLOSS situation whereby a civilian airliner had lost communications with air traffic control.

A SAR mission scenario also took place where a Lithuanian Mi-8 helicopter rescued an ejected F-16 crew member. Belgian, German and Swedish jets carried out practice diversions with fly-bys over Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania.

Mi-8/Mi-17

JAS 39C/D Gripen

F/A-18C/D