Four Norwegian F-16 jet fighters will as of Sunday patrol the airspace of NATO allies Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the Royal Norwegian Air Force said Friday, according to dpa. The Baltic trio joined NATO in March 2004, but since they lack air-combat capacity, other NATO members have had to provide combat aircraft on a rotating basis. Norway takes over the mission from Portugal. It is the second time Norway has provided jets for the operation. The four F-16s and some 60 personnel were due to serve in the Baltics until March 15, the Norwegian Air Force said. The Norwegian jets would be based at Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania. Norway would also monitor the Baltic airspace from a base in Kaunas, Lithuania.
