Lithuania says drone sighting turns out to be flock of birds, after NATO summons jets
- On Sunday, Lithuanian authorities temporarily closed Vilnius International Airport after detecting a suspected drone sighting. The National Crisis Management Centre confirmed the object was a flock of birds, and the airport reopened within 38 minutes.
- Radar operators face persistent technical challenges because 'on initial radar readings, marks left by birds and drones can be similar,' the National Crisis Management Centre noted. This ambiguity forces authorities to trigger rapid military responses even when threats remain unverified.
- A fighter jet was summoned from Siauliai in northern Lithuania, where the Italian air force is currently based as part of the NATO Baltic Air Defence mission. The jet conducted visual identification of the detected object.
- The temporary closure reflects extreme sensitivity of Baltic airspace monitoring, where rapid military intervention is standard practice. This incident demonstrates the ongoing pressure on regional defenses to maintain immediate capabilities during periods of high alert.
- As Russia intensifies aggression against Ukraine, NATO Allies remain on high alert, with President Gitanas Nausda emphasizing that such readiness is vital for the region's defense. The incident underscores the Baltics' role as NATO's eastern flank amid ongoing security pressures.
239 Articles
239 Articles
NATO fighter aircraft engaged in air patrol missions in the Baltic countries, hit a drone in the Kaishyador district in central Lithuania on the morning of Tuesday, report to the Lithuanian media with reference to the National Crisis Management Centre. "The drone entered Lithuania, allegedly from Belarus and headed to the western part of the country; it was hit by Italian fighter aircraft pilots stationed at the Shiaulia Airbase", says the repor…
NATO fighter planes shot down a drone over Lithuania, announced on Tuesday the Lithuanian president. ...
Sueddeutsche Zeitung
The Baltic states have felt particularly threatened since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Together with allies, Lithuania wants to defend its airspace.
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