Four Polish F-16s took the lead of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission on Tuesday from the Royal Netherlands Air Force. The F-16s will operate out of Siauliai AB, Lithuania, and will be supported by five Spanish F-18s, which will operate out of Amari AB, Estonia. Spain replaced the German Air Force in its support role. This is the sixth time Poland has led air policing mission, according to a NATO release.
Every year, Congress and the military debate which combat assets should head to the boneyard and which have more life left in them. Lawmakers often opt to keep Air Force systems that bring jobs to their districts, which complicates matters as the service looks to modernize and ditch certain platforms.…