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NATO Air Policing Missions

Latest update: January 2020

NATO BAP: Šiauliai	NATO BAP: Ämari	NATO BAP: Malbork
NATO AP: Iceland	NATO AP: Bulgaria and Romania	Air Policing graphics

Twelve countries signed the North Atlantic Treaty on April 4, 1949: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, the United Kingdom and the United States. On June 5, 2017 Montenegro joined the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) becoming the 29th member of the alliance. With the joining of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, known as the Baltic nations, on May 29, 2004 NATO stood up its first air policing mission (APM). The APM assists NATO members without the means to provide their own policing mission (quick reaction alert - QRA). Scrambles are initiated by the responsible Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC). Currently the following air policing missions are conducted by NATO.

Country Šiauliai Ämari Malbork Total BAP Iceland Bulgaria Romania Total APM                   Albania                 Belgium 6 2 2 10 0 0 0 10 Bulgaria 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Canada 1 0 0 1 3 0 4 8 Croatia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Czech Republic 2 1 0 3 3 0 0 6 Denmark 6 1 0 7 3 0 0 10 Estonia                 France 5 1 1 7 1 0 0 8 Germany 5 6 0 11 2 0 0 13 Greece 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Hungary 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 2 Iceland                 Italy 2 1 0 3 4 1 1 9 Latvia                 Lithuania                 Luxembourg                 Montenegro                 The Netherlands 2 0 1 3 0 0 0 3 Norway 3 0 0 3 4 0 0 7 Poland 8 1 0 9 0 0 0 9 Portugal 4 0 1 5 1 0 1 7 Romania 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 Slovakia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Slovenia                 Spain 4 2 0 6 0 0 0 6 Turkey 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 United Kingdom 2 3 0 5 1 0 2 8 United States 5 0 0 5 11 1 0 17                   Total 59 18 5 82 33 2 8 125 Albania Air Policing: Albania joined NATO in 2009 and an arrangement similar to Slovenia (see below) was established. Operating from their home bases both the Greek and Italian Air Forces are responsible to secure the Albanian air space. Baltic Air Policing (BAP) - Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania: Belgium was the first NATO country provide the BAP mission from March 27, 2004 until July 1, 2004 with its Lockheed Martin F-16AMs. Iceland Air Policing: Until March 1, 1995 the United States Air Forces Europe 57th Fighter Squadron (prior 57th fighter Interceptor Squadron) was based at Keflavik Air Base. The squadron provided the air defense or Iceland. After its deactivation the task was rotated between other USAF fighter squadrons which ended in 2006. NATO took over the air policing mission with the first rotation conducted by the French Air Force with four Mirage 2000s in 2008. Montenegro Air Policing: Montenegro joined NATO in 2017. From June 5, 2018 the Greek and Italian Air Forces assumed the Montenegro Air Policing mission. NATO's Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejon, Spain will initiate the launch of either the Greek or Italian aircraft. Slovenia Air Policing: From 2004 the Italian Air Force commenced with the air policing mission for Slovenia. On January 17, 2014 the Hungarian and Slovenian defence ministers signed an agreement resulting in the Hungarian Air Force joining their Italian colleagues. The CAOC decides which countries aircraft are scrambled. Hungary provides the air policing task with its Saab JAS-39C based at Kecskemét (59th Tactical Fighter Wing). The Italian Air Force as assigned its EF-2000s. Notes: Luxembourg has no air force of its own. Until December 31, 2016 its air space was protected by the Belgian Air Component (BAC). From January 1, 2017 the BAC and Royal Netherlands Air Force rotate their QRA covering all three BENELUX countries. Montenegro's Air Force doesn't posses fighter aircraft, its Soko G-4 Super Galeb were transferred to the Serbian Air Force or sold on the civilian market.

Photo gallery

Belgian F-16AM	Canada CF-188	Czech republic JAS-39C
Denmark F-16AM	France Mirage 2000-5F	France Mirage F.1CR
Germany EF-2000	Germany F-4F	Hungary JAS-39C
Italy EF-2000	Netherlands F-16AM	Norway F-16AM
Poland F-16C	Poland Mig-29	Romania Mig-21 / Lancer
Spain EF-2000	Spain Mirage F.1M	Turkey F-16C
United Kingdom Tornado F.3	United Kingdom Tornado GR.4	United States F-15
United States F-16