American fighter aircraft arrived at Łask Air Base, Poland, February 10, to enhance NATO’s collective defence posture and support the NATO Air Policing mission.
U.S. F-15C and F-15D Eagles from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath, U.K. will work alongside the Polish and Danish F-16 aircraft already executing NATO’s Air Policing mission from Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania.
The extra fighters will bolster readiness and Allied deterrence and defence as Russia continues its military build-up in and around Ukraine. The aircraft plan to work with other Allies throughout the region practicing air-to-air and air-to-ground training maneuvers in addition to the supporting the enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission.
The U.S. fighters will work closely with Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem (CAOC UE) based in Germany.
The CAOC is responsible for directing, tasking and coordinating air operations of allocated assets across Northern Europe in peacetime, crisis and conflict. The multinational staffs are in close contact with Control and Reporting Centres, National Air Policing Centres and dedicated Quick Reaction Alert bases routinely to execute NATO’s Air Policing mission.