On September 22 Commanders of the Baltic states' Air Forces will meet at the Lithuanian Air Force Base in Šiauliai. Commander of the Lithuanian Air Force Colonel Audronis Navickas will discuss operation of the Baltic Air Surveillance Network and Control System (BALTNET) and other points of bilateral and multilateral cooperation with his Latvian counterpart Colonel Armands Saltups and Estonian counterpart Lieutenant Colonel Jaak Tarien.
The Baltic Air Force Commanders will also meet with the Hungarian Air Force Detachment, for the first time deployed to Šiauliai Air Base to conduct the NATO Air Policing Mission in the Baltic states.
BALTNET comprises of national control and reporting posts in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, radiolocation posts, and the Combined Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) Karmėlava. The international staff of the latter is provided by all three Baltic states and commanded by a representative of a Baltic state on a rotational basis. BALTNET which is interoperable with corresponding NATO systems and operates on a 24/7 basis became an integral part of the NATO Integrated Air Defense System (NATINADS) in 2004. The Combined Control and Reporting Centre Karmėlava ensures control of the fighter jets deployed to conduct the NATO Air Policing Mission in Baltic states (location: Šiauliai airport in Zokniai).
Baltic Air Force Commanders meet twice a year.
