Four Polish F-16s took the lead of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission on Tuesday from the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The F-16s will operate out of Siauliai AB, Lithuania, and will be supported by five Spanish F-18s, which will operate out of Amari AB, Estonia. Spain replaced the German Air Force in its support role. This is the sixth time Poland has led air policing mission, according to a NATO release.
A combined Navy and Air Force program is seeking to build a smaller version of a ubiquitous air-to-air missile that could give advanced aircraft, such as the Collaborative Combat Aircraft, greater magazine depth in a high-end fight.