NATO Air Command

A ready, robust team trained, equipped and trusted to deliver Air and Space Power for the Alliance.

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

1️⃣7️⃣ 17 nations
7️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ personnel
1️⃣ objective

Ample Strike 2026 in the Czech Republic brings together NATO aircraft, helicopters, drones, JTACs and command teams from across the Alliance to sharpen the coordination required for modern air operations.

By training together across different platforms and capabilities, Allied forces strengthen their ability to communicate, coordinate and deliver effective air support when and where it is needed.

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

Last night, two Italian 🇮🇹 Eurofighters deployed on NATO Air Defence mission at Šiauliai 🇱🇹, scrambled and shot down a drone over Lithuanian airspace. 

The operation was coordinated through NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre in Uedem, Germany.

Investigations are ongoing together with national authorities. 

NATO has dozens of aircraft and numerous other air defence capabilities strategically deployed across the Alliance. Many enablers support these efforts, including air-to-air refueling aircraft and airborne early warning assets. Together, these capabilities provide a robust, layered shield that helps defend the Alliance and its one billion citizens.

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

Five Allies 🇫🇷🇬🇷🇷🇴🇪🇸🇹🇷. One shared mission: Protecting the skies under NATO's new Air Defence framework.
Fighter jets from France, Greece, Romania, Spain and Türkiye trained together with ground forces over Romania 🇷🇴on 9 September, supported by aerial refuelling tankers and Commanded and Controlled by the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force's AWACS ✈️.
Crews practised responding to simulated threats and working with Romanian ground forces, building the coordination needed when every second counts.
This training advances NATO’s shift from Air Policing towards a broader Air Defence approach, designed to protect NATO territory and populations against threats ranging from aircraft and drones to missiles.

Read more: https://t.co/ay7VwZxMLM

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

Среќен Ден на независноста! 🇲🇰
We wish our friends and Allies in North Macedonia a happy Independence Day!

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

@HAFspokesperson On behalf of NATO Allied Air Command, we send our deepest condolences to the families of the Greek aircrew who lost their lives in this tragic incident. The loss of colleagues in the air is felt by all of us in NATO Allied Air Command.

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

Spanish 🇪🇸 EF-18M Hornets and 🇹🇷 Turkish F-16s conducted familiarisation training with 🇪🇪 Estonian ground crews and maintainers at Ämari Air Base on Aug. 27, strengthening cooperation among Allies supporting NATO’s Baltic Air Defence mission.

On the ground, Estonian personnel refuelled Spanish aircraft, while Estonian firefighters and Spanish medical personnel reviewed rescue and emergency-response procedures. In the air, Spanish and Turkish fighters flew together to refine coordination and build a shared understanding of the operating environment.
Across NATO’s Eastern Flank, Italian Eurofighters are deployed to Lithuania, Turkish F-16s to Estonia, and Spanish fighters to Romania and Estonia. By training together from the beginning of each deployment, Allied forces can integrate rapidly, operate safely and respond effectively, strengthening NATO’s readiness and collective defence

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

Šťastný Deň Ústavy! 🇸🇰
We wish our Slovak friends and Allies a happy Constitution Day!

[NATO Allied Joint Force Command Norfolk - JFCNF @JFCNorfolk]

A rare moment. A constant mission. ✈️🌑

As a solar eclipse darkens the sky, four 🇧🇪Belgian Air Force F-16s continue their flight - reflecting NATO’s enduring vigilance and readiness to defend the Alliance.

The detachment of F-16s are based in Keflavik, Iceland 🇮🇸 as part of @NATO's comprehensive Air Defence posture, safeguarding NATO's airspace under Arctic Sentry. ❄️

🔗https://t.co/vkQDe2IFdh

📸OR-6 Mehdi Meunier

#WeAreNATO #StrongerTogether #ArcticSentry
@SHAPE_NATO | @NATO_AIRCOM | @BelgiumDefence | @BeAirForce | @BelgiumNATO | @IcelandNATO | @MFAIceland | @NATOJFCBS | @JFC_Naples

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

On Aug 19, Italian 🇮🇹 & Turkish 🇹🇷 fighters deployed in Lithuania and Estonia conducted counter-drone training over the Baltics during a NATO Flexible Deterrence Option activity.
Crews practiced intercepting target drones provided by Lithuania 🇱🇹, supported by a German A-400M tanker @Team_Luftwaffe 🇩🇪 & NATO AWACS @NATOAWACS .
NATO’s Air Defence framework continuously protects NATO territory and airspace across all domains.

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

Two Spanish 🇪🇸 F-18 fighter jets, on enhanced Air Defence mission in Romania, were scrambled this morning and shot down a drone over Romanian airspace.

The F-18s are part of a larger contingent from the Spanish Air and Space Force. They arrived at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base at the beginning of the month. In total, seven F-18 fighter aircraft, three NH-90 counter-drone helicopters, an A400M aerial refuelling aircraft, and around 200 personnel from Spain are stationed there.

The operation was coordinated through NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejón, Spain. With the transition from Air Policing to Air Defence, NATO can now respond more flexibly to a wider range of threats, using a layered, 360-degree approach across all operational domains.

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

Italian Air Force 🇮🇹 @ItalianAirForce concludes NATO enhanced Air Policing mission in Romania ✈️

Throughout the deployment, the Italian detachment accumulated about 300 flying hours and responded to several Alpha Scrambles in support of NATO's Air Defence mission.

🔗 https://t.co/uIWP7nACmA

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

Earlier today, two Italian 🇮🇹 Eurofighters from Šiauliai Air Base, Lithuania, and two Turkish 🇹🇷 F-16 fighter jets from Ämari Air Base, Estonia, on Air Defence missions over the Baltics, scrambled after an unidentified drone entered Latvia’s airspace ✈️

After positive identification, one of the Italian Eurofighters neutralised the potential threat over an unpopulated area. The entire activity was coordinated with NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) in Uedem, Germany and Allied Air Command, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

With the transition from Air Policing to Air Defence, NATO can now respond more flexibly to a wider range of threats, using a layered, 360-degree approach across all operational domains 🌐

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

French Air and Space Force 🇫🇷 @Armee_de_lair conclude NATO Baltic Air Policing mission in Lithuania ✈️

Across the deployment, the French Air and Space Force flew more than 540 flying hours while responding to almost 40 Alpha Scrambles and conducting nearly 70 training Scrambles.

🔗 https://t.co/P11RSCD26i

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

Belgian Air Force 🇧🇪 @BeAirForce has deployed four F-16 fighters and personnel to Iceland Air Defence mission 🇮🇸

🛡️The mission was formerly known as Iceland Air Policing and focused mainly on protecting against crewed and uncrewed aircraft. With the transition to Air Defence, NATO can now respond more flexibly to a wider range of threats, using a layered, 360-degree approach across all operational domains.

🌐Working under NATO's enhanced Vigilance Activity Arctic Sentry, led by @JFCNorfolk, Iceland Air Defence is reinforcing the Alliance's deterrence and defence posture in the arctic.

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

UK Royal Air Force 🇬🇧 @RoyalAirForce concludes NATO enhanced Air Policing mission in Romania ✈️

Throughout the deployment, the detachment flew more than 180 flying hours, around 140 sorties, while maintaining aircraft and crews on very high readiness. The Royal Air Force responded to nearly 10 Alpha Scrambles and conducted more than 40 training Scrambles, demonstrating NATO's ability to react quickly to potential airspace activity.

🔗 https://t.co/dQvht0VURO

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

Romanian Air Force 🇷🇴 concludes NATO enhanced Air Policing mission in Lithuania ��️

Throughout the deployment, the Romanian detachment accumulated more than 800 flying hours and responded to more than 20 Alpha Scrambles in support of NATO's Air Policing mission.

🔗 https://t.co/9rQuMeJ91F

[NATO Air Command @NATO_AIRCOM]

Portuguese Air Force 🇵🇹 concludes NATO enhanced Air Policing mission in Estonia ✈️

Throughout the deployment, the Portuguese detachment accumulated more than 480 flying hours and conducted more than 25 Alpha Scrambles, logging more than 75 flying hours in response to unidentified aircraft approaching NATO airspace.

🔗 https://t.co/NnhjLiV2jB