The unit consists of aviation technicians and personnel from the Spanish Air and Space Forces. Spain's additional contribution temporarily increases the presence of allied air forces and demonstrates NATO's readiness to reinforce the region's air defense with additional forces if necessary. Since 2015, the Spanish Air Force has participated four times in the mission to protect the airspace from the Amari Air Base. "We welcome the contingent of the Spanish Air Force at Amari Air Base, which will join NATO's mission to protect the airspace of the Baltic States under the leadership of Turkey," said Kaimo Kuusk, Chancellor of the Estonian Ministry of Defense. During the coordination exercises with their Turkish colleagues, the Spanish unit has already conducted joint familiarization flights on F-18 fighters and Turkish F-16s. The flight crews practiced coordination with each other and familiarized themselves with the peculiarities of air traffic in the region. It is worth noting that according to the decision of the North Atlantic Council, the air forces of NATO member countries are responsible for the protection of the airspace of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The aircraft of the air policing mission are based at Amari Air Base in Estonia and Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania.
