Share :

Download PDF :

NATO (29 May 2018)

Montenegro contributes to the Alliance’s shared security by providing troops to NATO’s training mission in Afghanistan and financial support to the Afghan security forces.  In a sign of Allied solidarity, Italy and Greece will now help protect Montenegrin airspace. Italian and Greek fighter aircraft will continue to be based in their home countries, taking to the skies as necessary. 

NATO air policing is a long-running, routine mission to safeguard the integrity of the Alliance’s airspace, a core task for NATO’s collective defence. Air policing is not a response to any specific threat, but an essential component of how NATO provides security for its members. Under NATO regulations, Allied air forces must have at least two fighter aircraft on 24/7 readiness, and at any given moment dozens of fighter aircraft are at high readiness all across Europe. Alternatively, Allies with no air force can seek multinational solutions to guard their airspace. Spain, Portugal and France are currently part of the Baltic Air Policing over Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Italy also routinely helps to protect Slovenian airspace, while the UK  Royal Air Force supports air patrols over Romania.

NATO air policing jets take to the skies in response to military or civilian aircraft in distress,  or that do not follow international flight regulations and approach the airspace of NATO Allies. Often, these aircraft fail to properly identify themselves, communicate with air traffic control or file flight plans.

https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_154999.htm