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F-15s and about 130 airmen from the 493rd Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, Britain, recently deployed to Siauliai, Lithuania, where, as of Oct. 1, they are now protecting the air sovereignty of NATO members Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. “The United States is committed to the air sovereignty of its NATO allies and to ensuring the regional peace and stability for these countries,” said Lt. Col. Michael King, the unit’s commander. The squadron took over the air-policing mission from the German Air Force. NATO members have been providing aircraft to protect Baltic airspace since 2004. This is the second time the US has provided support for this mission. (Siauliai report by TSgt. J. LaVoie)
The Air Force has finished modifying and testing the new VC-25B Bridge aircraft that will serve as a temporary Air Force One, the service announced May 1. All that’s left now is to finish painting the jet before it starts flying this summer.