Margarita Robles bids farewell to the personnel of Tactical Air Detachment 'Vilkas' that will be deployed in Lithuania

The Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, bids farewell to the personnel of Tactical Air Detachment 'Vilkas' that will be deployed in Lithuania

"As always and once again our Armed Forces, the Air and Space Forces, are in the front line. It is a source of satisfaction and pride for me and for your families to see you here," said Minister Robles in her farewell to the 150 men and women of the EA who will take part in NATO's Baltic Air Policing (BAP) deterrence mission.

The minister made specific reference to the difficulties inherent to the mission they are facing due to the global geopolitical context, adding that "I know that you are great professionals and, most importantly, I know that you are going with enthusiasm, with a spirit of service, and that is something that fills me with satisfaction, not as a minister but as a Spaniard".

She also expressed her conviction that "you are going to leave the Spanish flag flying very high" because "when you are there on missions, what you are doing is contributing to making Spain a greater country, and above all, you are contributing to peace in the world".

The DAT 'Vilkas' is a large detachment, consisting mainly of 150 airmen from the 12th and 15th Wing (together with personnel from various EA units) and eight F-18 aircraft. They will be joined by an A400 from the 31st Wing, as well as airmen from the Logistic Centre for Armament and Experimentation to assist with electronic warfare, bringing the detachment to almost 190 personnel. During the four-month mission, it will be based at the Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania, 180 km from the capital Vilnius.

Lieutenant Colonel Pablo Estrada, head of the DAT, thanked the minister for her support and presence, "which reaffirms the importance of the mission, to which we are going with joy and pride, knowing that we are going to do well".

The BAP mission, one of the most important for NATO's collective defence and one in which Spain has been one of the countries with the largest presence, celebrates its 20th anniversary this week.

Since 2004, NATO has been carrying out Air Policing missions in the Baltic to make up for the shortfall in the three Baltic states that do not have an Air Force with this capability, in which Spain has taken part and led on several occasions.

In 2014, following Russia's illegitimate annexation of Crimea, a second Air Police presence was established at Ämari Air Base (Estonia), which also has a Spanish presence.

Non official translation