Royal Air Force jets have arrived on the Black Sea coast in Romania to protect Nato’s eastern flank from the threat from Russia, as the war in Ukraine intensifies.
Six RAF Typhoon fighter jets are due to start air policing missions this week.
Pilots and ground crew will be at high readiness for four months during the mission, which could see them launching to intercept Russian aircraft with just minutes of notice.
The mission is part of the UK’s contribution to Nato operations, alongside a deployment of more than 1,000 soldiers to Estonia.
RAF fighter jets head to Nato frontline as Ukraine war intensifies
MoD
The Typhoon fighter aircraft have been deployed with more than two hundred personnel from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing from RAF Lossiemouth and will be based at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania.
They will fly alongside the Romanian Air Force as part of Nato’s enhanced Air Policing mission until August.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said: “Our Nato air policing deployment helps to keep Europe’s skies secure, and I pay tribute to the dedicated personnel delivering this important mission.
“Ready to launch at a moment’s notice for the next four months, the Typhoon pilots will respond with professionalism to threats and incidents in support of our collective security.
“We’re showing the scale of our commitment to Nato in its 75th year, with deployments like this and thousands of personnel operating and exercising across the alliance to keep the UK and our allies safe.”
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
Six aircraft will head to Romania
MoD
The countries involved in Nato’s air policing missions rotate on a regular basis, with the RAF having flown to intercept more than 50 Russian aircraft in the first half of last year while leading the Alliance’s enhanced air policing mission from Estonia. This will be the fifth time the RAF have participated in the air policing mission in Romania.
Air Commodore Martin Cunningham, 11 Group Assistant Chief of Staff of Operations, said: “The Royal Air Force is very proud to be back in Romania as part of the UK’s contribution to Nato, working with our Romanian colleagues.
“Our presence here is another example of the UK’s steadfast commitment to Nato and for the RAF, a further demonstration of our air power projection capability.
“As with every operation, there has been an enormous amount of preparation to get us to this point: from the huge road moves, delivery of equipment, training of our expeditionary air wing personnel and of course to the Typhoon squadron from RAF Lossiemouth arriving.
“I wish to extend my sincere thanks to all involved in the herculean effort to ensure smooth accreditation and wish them a successful deployment.”
RAF Typhoons have been deployed alongside 200 military personnel
MoD
This will be the fifth time the RAF have participated in the air policing mission in Romania
MoD
Nato's enhanced Air Policing in the south was introduced in 2014 to reassure Allied populations along the eastern flank after Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula.
Wing Commander Karl Bird, Commanding Officer of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, said: “This will be the RAF’s fifth rotation in Romania, having completed the first iteration in 2014.
“The missions contribute to the development of the reaction and deterrence capacity and is a strong sign of the Alliance’s cohesion. Ensuring Nato is ready to secure the skies 24/7.”
