In a significant development, the first NATO Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft has landed at the Šiauliai Air Base in Lithuania. This move marks the arrival of reconnaissance aircraft in Lithuania for the first time, as reported by the Lithuanian Army’s press office.
The press office clarified that the reconnaissance aircraft will be tasked with monitoring Russia’s military activities at the Lithuanian Air Force Aviation Base in Šiauliai, along with a contingent of 150 army personnel, starting from September 28th. The AWACS aircraft are part of NATO’s reconnaissance aircraft fleet, which is based in Germany. They have arrived in Lithuania from Turkey.
The article explains that in the coming weeks, the AWACS aircraft will commence reconnaissance flights over the territory of the North Atlantic Alliance. This mission is expected to last for several weeks.
Earlier, NATO announced its plan to deploy two AWACS aircraft to Lithuania for the purpose of “observing military activities” of Russia near the country’s borders. It should be noted that a US reconnaissance aircraft was recently spotted near Crimea.
