RoAF 71st Air Base
2007 Baltic Air Policing
### 2007 Baltic Air Policing

[thumb\|right\|Front view of the Control Tower.](/wiki/File:71st_AB_Control_Tower_%28front%29.jpg "71st AB Control Tower (front).jpg")
Four MiG\-21 LanceR Cs belonging to 71st Air Base were deployed from August 2007 to November 2007 at [Šiauliai](/wiki/%C5%A0iauliai "Šiauliai"), in [Lithuania](/wiki/Lithuania "Lithuania") for [Baltic Air Policing](/wiki/Baltic_Air_Policing "Baltic Air Policing"). The Romanian detachment succeeds the [French Air Force](/wiki/French_Air_Force "French Air Force") [Mirage 2000Cs](/wiki/Mirage_2000 "Mirage 2000") of *Escadron de Chasse 01\.012* from [Cambrai](/wiki/Cambrai "Cambrai"), which fulfilled the Baltic Air Policing since May 2007\. Once the RoAF finish its three\-month stint, a [Portuguese Air Force](/wiki/Portuguese_Air_Force "Portuguese Air Force") detachment will take over the mission.*LanceRs on Alert over Baltics*, [Air Forces Monthly](/wiki/Air_Forces_Monthly "Air Forces Monthly"), November 2007 issue, p. 36\.

The four aircraft and a total of 67 personnel, among them nine pilots, are part of the detachment: 63 serve at Šiauliai, while other four serve at the air traffic control centre in [Kaunas](/wiki/Kaunas "Kaunas"), to ensure smooth cooperation with local authorities. The Romanian detachment has attracted huge attention from the local media, not least from the fact that it is only the second time a fighter from the [Soviet](/wiki/Soviet_Union "Soviet Union") era has deployed to [Šiauliai](/wiki/%C5%A0iauliai "Šiauliai"); [Polish Air Force](/wiki/Polish_Air_Force "Polish Air Force") [MiG\-29s](/wiki/MiG-29 "MiG-29") have also been deployed there in 2006\. The RoAF will most probably perform again Baltic Air Policing in future.*LanceRs on Alert over Baltics*, [AirForces Monthly](/wiki/AirForces_Monthly "AirForces Monthly"), November 2007 issue, p. 37\.


Who will take over the mission after the Romanian detachment?