Wire flash
ConflictFrench Eastern Flank Update: Estonia LIC ends 4-month tour, trained nearly 3,000
Editorial responsibility
- No named human review is recorded for this page.
- Source reporting is collected, normalized, translated or condensed automatically when needed.
- Automatically published source-backed update
The French Ministry of Defense published an operational update covering the period from June 25 to July 2, 2026, focusing on the Eastern Flank of NATO. In Estonia, the Light Infantry Company (LIC) completed a four-month deployment, conducting over 40 partnership actions with the Estonian Defense League and training nearly 3,000 Estonian personnel and volunteers to enhance interoperability. In Lithuania, French Rafale aircraft participating in the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission intercepted two Russian Su-30 fighters on June 27 near Baltic airspace. The Russian aircraft were operating without a filed flight plan or radio contact. The French jets scrambled from Šiauliai Air Base to identify the aircraft and ensure the sovereignty of allied airspace.
Source report
EUROPE
Eastern Flank of the Alliance: Permanent Operational Posture
Estonia
The Light Infantry Company (LIC) completed its mandate following a four-month deployment focused on strengthening Franco-Estonian cooperation. During the mission, the unit conducted over 40 partnership actions with the Estonian Defense League, supporting the training and instruction of local units and facilitating the exchange of specialized expertise.
Nearly 3,000 Estonian military personnel and volunteers benefited from these activities, enhancing interoperability between French and Estonian forces.
Lithuania
Rafale aircraft from the French Air and Space Force continue to participate in the NATO air policing mission. On June 27, two aircraft deployed at Šiauliai Air Base launched on alert to intercept two Russian Su-30 fighters operating near the airspace of the Baltic states. The Russian aircraft had not filed a flight plan and were not in radio contact. The intervention allowed for the identification of the aircraft and ensured the sovereignty of allied airspace.
Source
Ministère des Armées et des Anciens combattantsWestern
Part of this Story
French Forces Intercept Russian Jets, Train in NATO Eastern Flank Operations