The new BAP-70 unit of the Army Air and Space Forces has completed its deployment at the Šiauliai base – as reported by the Air Staff – with ten fighters. EF-18M From the 15th Wing and more than 150 soldiers were integrated into the Vilkas Air Detachment. Four months after the Eurofighter was launched from the 11th Wing, the Spanish rotation assumes one of the most demanding standing ultimatums in NATO.
The arrival of the 15th Wing coincides with a phase of operational friction: the Baltic region maintains an annual average of 150 to 180 interceptions Undeclared according to NATO data, with unpredictable activity pattern. In this environment, the first familiarization flights set climbing profiles, hold circuits, and coordinate directly with Kauk Udem In Germany.
What changes as the EF-18M enters Baltic alert?
The hidden truth: the real reaction window
| Parameter | He deserves |
|---|---|
| Stampede time | Between 7 and 11 minutes depending on the alert file, which is less than the classic 15-minute range that was publicly announced |
This rank – confirmed by two 15th Wing officers in previous rotations – places the Spanish fighter in NATO’s high reaction range for QRA missions. A Pentagon source cited in a 2024 report noted that “margins of less than 12 minutes double the probability of safe interception in the Baltic corridors.”
Technical settings: sensors, connections and payload
- The EF-18M works with AN/APG-73 radar Edited and linked Link 16which allows for near real-time receipt of activation orders from the CAOC.
The 11th Wing’s actual missions in the previous cycle exceeded twenty Alpha Scramble interceptors. This rhythm serves as a reference for the 15th wing, which faces shorter sides and less predictable entry vectors. A memo from the Congressional Research Service (CRS, 2023) noted that the region relies “on platforms that combine speed of promotion and secure communications embedded in the allied network.”
How does this deployment affect the military balance on the eastern side?
The dual mission – Baltic Air Police and Eastern Sentinel – turns the Spanish battalion into a relevant node of deterrence. Šiauliai is the first line to monitor non-connecting flights from the Kaliningrad Corridor and the southern Baltic coast. Lithuanian authorities admitted during the relay that the Spanish presence “reduced identification times in times of high air density.”
The 15th Pavilion also offers a unique experience: the transition between hunting generations. The EF-18Ms operate in tandem with future FCAS and modernized Eurofighters, but remain — according to a 2024 RAND analysis — “robust platforms when exploiting their reaction windows and hybrid mission profiles.” This reading explains why NATO insists on maintaining mixed squadrons in the Baltic Sea.
The strategic balance is clear: Spain maintains a reliable air carrier In the most tense area in allied space. The combination of interoperability, scramble margin and continuity of rotation indicates an enhanced role in the collective defense decisions that will be discussed within the Alliance in 2026.