Since June of this year, as part of NATO’s support to alliance members in the Baltic region, the Portuguese Air Force deployed one of its P-3C Orion maritime surveillance and patrol aircraft. Stationed in Lithuania, this deployment concluded on July 15th, during which the aircraft detected a surfaced Russian Navy Kilo II-class attack submarine.
The aircraft involved was a P-3C CUP+ from the Portuguese Air Force’s 601 Squadron “Wolves,” operating from June 13th to July 15th at Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania. Throughout its presence in the region, it conducted numerous surveillance and reconnaissance missions over the airspace and maritime areas of Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia.
“For a month, the detachment conducted various maritime surveillance missions, where it detected, among others, submarines from the Russian Federation. This mission promotes maritime security in the Baltic Sea, aiming to ensure freedom of navigation and contribute to the peace of NATO’s eastern flank,” stated the Portuguese Air Force in an official release.
Upon the P-3C’s withdrawal along with its 38-person support crew, the aircraft had monitored 36,000 maritime traffic movements. During one of these operations, it detected the B-608 Mozhaysk, one of the most modern attack submarines in service with the Russian Navy, belonging to the Kilo II class (also known as Project 636.3). These submarines currently operate in the Baltic Sea but are intended to integrate into the Pacific Fleet of the Russian Navy.
While based on the original Kilo class designed by the Soviet Union in the 1970s, the Russian design bureaus and shipyards have implemented significant redesigns and improvements in the Kilo II class. These include the capability to launch Kalibr-PL (SS-N-27 Sizzler) anti-ship missiles and 533mm torpedoes, along with enhancements in range and stealth capabilities.
With the return of the P-3C Orion to its home base in Portugal, the Portuguese Air Force’s presence in the Baltic continues with a new deployment of F-16 fighters to conduct Air Policing missions in the region. This deployment involves four F-16M fighter jets and 95 personnel, stationed at Siauliai Air Base in Lithuania for the coming months.
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