With their significant and fully recognized operational capability, it was natural that in 2007, the 201 and 301 Squadrons assumed, for the first time, the responsibility of ensuring the defense of NATO airspace in the Baltic States, which had become NATO members in 2004.

Since then, Portuguese F-16s have been deployed six more times to conduct Air Policing (AP) missions in this region, as well as twice in the airspace of Iceland. Additionally, there have been four Assurance Measures (AM) missions conducted in Romania and Poland.

These missions are part of Portugal's effective contribution to collective defense efforts, stemming from national commitments made to NATO, being referred to as Deployed National Forces (DNF).