NATO Air Policing Missions in Europe

This NATO Air Policing missions protect the integrity and safety of the airspace of European NATO member states. The aim of this article is to identify Air Policing missions carried out in Europe and their impact on airspace safety within NATO's European responsibility. The research problem is expressed by the question: what are the main objectives of Air Policing missions and how do Air Policing activities affect the security and protection of airspace for NATO member states? It seems that given the current geopolitical situation and the activity of the Russian Federation, the primary goal is to protect airspace, particularly on the Alliance's eastern flank. Furthermore, ensuring the airspace protection of NATO member states that do not have their own air forces, such as Slovenia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Iceland, also contributes to ensuring effective territorial defense and fulfilling NATO's core mission. The article employs theoretical methods: analysis and synthesis.