EBAP Malbork airbase 2021
For the NATO Enhanced Baltic Air Policing (EBAP), four Turkish Air Force (Türk Hava Kuvvetleri, THK) Lockheed Martin F-16s (Fighting Falcons) were deployed to Malbork airbase in Poland (ICAO code: EPMB). From July 2021 until mid September 2021, the Turkish F-16s were based in Poland. The four F-16s (three single seat and one double seat) from the 161 Filo (squadron), named ‘Yarasa’ (Bat) are normally based at 6th Main Jet Base Bandirma airbase (ICAO code:LTBG) in the northwestern Turkish province of Balikesir.
Malbork airbase (22 Baza Lotnictwa Taktycznego) is the homebase of the 41 squadron ( 41 Eskadra Lotnictwa Taktycznego, 41. ELT) flying with the Mikoyan MiG- 29 ( NATO name: ‘Fulcrum’) fighter. The MiG-29s at Malbork airbase, were transferred in 2004 from the German Air Force to Poland.
The Turkish F-16s were fully armed with the internal M61 gatling gun (Vulcan) and two kinds of external air-to-air missiles:
AIM-120 (Advanced Medium-Range Airto-Air Missile AMRAAM) and AIM-9X ( Sidewinder). Together with the Polish Mig- 29s from Malbork and the Polish F-16s from Łask airbase (32. Baza Lotnicza Taktycznego) (ICAO: EPLK), Enhanced Baltic Air Policing missions were flown.
This is the second time the Turkish Air Force contributed fighter jets to NATO Air Policing in the Baltic region; and it is the first Turkish deployment to Malbork, Poland.
Baltic Air Policing (BAP and EBAP)
The Baltic Air Policing (BAP) is a rotational air defence role taken up by the North
Atlantic Treaty Organisation ( NATO) countries as the Baltic countries (Estonia, Lithuania and Lettonia) do not have the means to maintain their own air defence fighters on a 24/7 basis. For three to four months, NATO partners deploy their
fighters to Amari airbase (Estonia) or Šiauliai airbase ( Lithuania). And in times of higher tensions, the eastern airbase of Malbork in Poland is also used by NATO partners on rotational duty to protect the eastern NATO flank. The Malbork deployments are called Extended Baltic Air Policing (EBAP). The Baltic Air Policing missions are controlled by Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) Uedem, near the city of Kalkar (Germany).
Southern support for the
In the summer of 2021, there were three southern NATO countries (Spain, Italy and Turkey) protecting the northern region of the NATO airspace. They were supporting NATO’s Baltic Air Policing in the north, demonstrating Alliance cohesion and solidarity. Deployed in the Baltic region, they worked with each other and hosted air forces to enhance cooperation and interoperability. Spanish Eurofighter Typhoons were based at Šiauliai airbase ( Lithuania) ( ICAO: EYSA) , Italian Lockheed F-35s were based at Ämari airbase (Estonia) (ICAO: EEEI) and Turkish F-16s were based at Malbork (Poland) (ICAO: EPMB).
Media Flight
On 26 August 2021, a media flight was organised by NATO Allied Air Command and the Polish Air Force. From Malbork airbase, a Polish Air Force EADS CASA-295M transport aircraft flew towards the laguna enclosed by the Hel peninsula near Gdynia. Onboard were twelve aviation reporters, securely attached to the floor of the CASA-295M. Initially, a mixed formation photo session was planned with Polish and Turkish F-16s. But due to bad weather in the assigned photo area, the Polish F-16s were cancelled and eventually two Turkish F-16s flew for an hour behind the CASA-295M.
The F-16s, the CASA-295M crew and the photographers were briefed before the flight, to allow good photo opportunities in a safe environment. This briefing was done by Sławek ‘Hesja’ Krajniewski, who organises similar commercial air-to-air photo opportunities in Poland.