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US Air Force pilots start patrolling Baltic States airspace

VILNIUS, January 03, /ITAR-TASS/. Pilots of the U.S. Air Force have starting patrolling airspace of Baltic States from Lithuania’s Air Base in Zokniai.

“More and more countries say they are ready to join air patrol,” Lithuanian Defence Minister Juozas Olekas said on Friday.

Italy and Hungary have also decided to join the mission, the Lithuanian minister said.

This is the fourth time when the United States took up the duty in Baltic States’ sky. Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia have no military equipment for this purpose. From 2004 NATO partners patrol the Baltic States’ airspace.

U.S. pilots arrived in Lithuania from Lakenheath Airbase (United Kingdom) and replaced the contingent of Belgian Air Force. U.S. pilots will make flights aboard the F-15S fighters. They include technicians, doctors and engineers - 150 people totally.