The Netherland has deployed a Patriot air defense battery to Lithuania, for Exercise Baltic Connection 24 (BALTCON24) , the Lithuanian Armed Forces said on July 2, reported the Baltic News Service. Lithuania is hosting the exercise, which will run from July 7-19, for the first time, it said. The exercise will also involve the Lithuanian Air Force’s Air Defense Battalion with NASAMS medium-range air defense systems, the Royal Netherlands Air Force’s Patriot system, Spanish and Portuguese fighter jets carrying out NATO’s Baltic air policing mission, and the Lithuanian Armed Forces’ Air Operations Centre and Air Force aircraft.