British force in Lithuania to strengthen NATO mission

Four Eurofighter Typhoons fighter jets of the British Royal Air Force landed at the Lithuanian air force base in Siauliai Monday, a defence ministry source said.

The British fighters will strengthen the Polish air contingent in the upcoming NATO Baltic air policing mission after the rotation of the US air force, Xinhua quoted the source as saying.

"Troops of the Polish Air Force with four Mig-29s will land in Siauliai on April 29, and a formal rotation ceremony of the contingents conducting the NATO Baltic air policing mission will be held on the following day, April 30."

"Moreover, four F-16 fighter jets of the Danish Air Force will be patrolling the Baltic airspace from the Amari air base of the Estonian Air Force as of May 1," the source said.

Last Saturday, about 150 U.S. troops and their equipment landed in Siauliai and are expected to stay till the end of this year, according to Lithuania's defence ministry.