Operation AZOTIZE

One hundred and fifty Royal Air Force personnel are on Baltic Air Policing duties in Lithuania this summer, as part of Operation Azotize.

Their task is to defend NATO airspace. Personnel are on high readiness to react to any aircraft that causes concern in Baltic airspace.They can be in the sky escorting an aircraft that poses a threat within minutes. RAF Typhoons have already been called into action since deploying in late April, intercepting Russian aircraft twice in 48 hours.

The UK and Spain are both on duty in Lithuania, with Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth working alongside Spanish Air Force F-18s at Šiauliai Air Base. Meanwhile, French colleagues share the load by covering Estonia.