NATO has deployed three E-3A Airborne Warning & Control System (AWACS) aircraft to Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, to support enhanced Vigilance Activities in the Baltic region, according to a statement from Allied Air Command Public Affairs.
The first AWACS aircraft arrived on 23 April 2025, marking the start of a deployment aimed at strengthening NATO’s presence on the eastern flank.
The detachment will operate from Lithuania for several weeks, conducting surveillance over the Baltic Sea region as part of NATO’s ongoing commitment to collective defence.
NATO’s AWACS, known as the Alliance’s “eyes in the sky”, provide critical air and maritime surveillance capabilities. They support a wide range of missions, from air policing and counterterrorism operations to evacuation, embargo enforcement, crisis response, and full wartime engagements. The aircraft’s arrival in Lithuania reflects NATO’s dedication to maintaining robust aerial surveillance and defence in the region.
This deployment also supports NATO’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept, which enhances the Alliance’s ability to conduct operations from dispersed and flexible locations. By training from Lithuania, NATO AWACS can swiftly respond to emerging threats, demonstrating operational readiness and reinforcing cooperation with the host nation.
“The deployment to Lithuania enhances NATO’s Agile Combat Employment concept, ensuring operational flexibility across dispersed locations,” according to the statement.
The presence of AWACS at Šiauliai Air Base also ensures continuous monitoring of the Baltic region. As a strategic location, the base supports Allied air policing and rotational capabilities, playing a key role in NATO’s air power and deterrence efforts. Its infrastructure further strengthens interoperability among NATO member states and enhances collective readiness in response to evolving geopolitical dynamics.
NATO AWACS aircraft are equipped to conduct a variety of missions, including peacetime air policing, maritime patrol, and support for crisis response.
And the UK’s AWAC’s arrived at the Coke Cola factory after been recycled in to drinks tins. Just a short gap in not having any, it will soon be fixed by the 3 we got once they are finished.
The situation at Finlands border is beginning to look a bit dicey…
Nothing will happen its mind games, postering, Russia will never openly attack a NATO country. It will just carry on with interfering and inciting trouble with the odd cable cut here and there. Conventional forces/air craft wise NATO easy out guns Russia in every thing less may be Artillery.
Finland has a strong bias towards Artillery so that general NATO gap is not true up north.
There’s almost nothing that my Finnish Artillery mates would rather do than Precision Fire on the orcs.
As they say in Hollywood: Do you feel lucky punk, well do you?
Pete Hegseth now wants to cancel the USAF E7 project and rely instead on satellites (provided by an unnamed republican donar not doubt)
If the US follows through it could be a golden opportunity for the UK to double down and increase the E7 fleet. Whoever controls the E7 platforms will be managing any NATO airborne mission for the next quarter century. It’s also the number one asset required for UK air defence. The US might have 2 prototype’s going spare and we could use our two radars to get a fleet of 7 at a reasonable price.
So why we only getting 3, which every one knows is not enough, make do and mend. Scrapping by as we always have on the bare minimum.
Too much fog of war currently but it looks like these types of platforms plated a key role in the massive air battle that took place over kasmir. I suspect if true then the RAF will be crying out for extra units.
Every one knows 3 is bad joke. We all hope more are ordered even if its just bring back up to 5. They are the aircraft of the hour and much needed. Let us all hope sense prevails and the right move is made. 3 will not do
It will be interesting if they keep the extra radars they have or if they try and flog them off.
Part of it is catch 22. The mod priorities short term decisions as the funds are not available to make more long term ones and the government won’t release funds for long term decisions because of poor previous decisions driven by being pushed to make short term decisions
A fair other factors involved but it has to be part of the problem.
Although what interested me was there was hundreds of planes involved in the battle and I assume equally hundreds of beyond visual range missiles and yet max a handful of planes were hit.
The MOD will no doubt pick the cheapest option that cost a lot in the long run instead just getting aircraft for the radars. Why the MOD never get much right and spend more by trying to save in the short run
Jim,
OMG, thanks for advising re latest potential clusterflock. E7 is the latest available technology, which provides both airborne C & C and AMTI. Space based systems are not ready for prime time. Perhaps in 15-20 yrs., but not today. USAF is certainly not advocating this course of action. Roughly equivalent to requesting a dozen Galaxy Class starships, complete w/ phasers, photon torpedoes and deflector shields. Interesting to contemplate ordering this tech, but there is that slight matter of development, before any acquisition should be initiated. 🙄😱
Yes, the USAF selected E7 as an interim capability because as you say space based systems are not ready and the E3 is falling out of the sky.
But the weekend Fox News host must have his photon torpedos to assuage that guy from the Apprentice and if that generates a kick back for Africas richest man then all the better 😀
Presumably with PH contempt (Signal) for US Military action with any benefits to European former Allies (ref Munich Contact Group appearance) what USAF want, given their deep understanding, will be over ruled…
Sad dereliction of duty, but real-politik, representing the democratic will of We The People.
Fully consistent with the documented incompetence of the participants. Does seem like an obvious US taxpayer saving with the opportunity for Europe to step up and carry the load.
We shall see what RAF has fought for in the Strategic Defence Review shortly but not attending to E7 fleet, when two radars are spare would seem like neglect.
Jim,
The idiom “It’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good” comes unbidden to mind when contemplating potential windfalls of further E-7A acquisitions by both RAF and RAAF, if USAF is forced by its masters to submit itself to an unjust flogging. Confidently predict Boeing will prove very accommodating re cost and schedule parameters, under that circumstance. This is beginning to seem somewhat reminiscent of the Consternation Class fiasco, although in this case USAF is an innocent bystander, about to be mugged for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. 🤔😳😱☹️