Baltic defense ministers agree on new BALTNET configuration

RIGA - The defense ministers of the Baltic states on Thursday signed an agreement on the launch of a new configuration of the Baltic Air Surveillance Network and Control System (BALTNET), Roberts Skraucs, a representative of the Latvian Defense Ministry, informed LETA.

The agreement was signed by Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks (For Development/For), Lithuanian Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis and Estonian Defense Minister Juri Luik. 

After signing the document, Pabrik noted that this agreement is the finishing stage of the work that has been done to enable each Baltic state to take over Baltic airspace control, thus reducing vulnerability and boosting the overall security of the Baltic states' airspace. 

Until now, the BALTNET structure only had one control and reporting center in Karmelava, Lithuania. The agreement signed by the three defense ministers provides for setting up three separate national control and reporting centers.