Royal Air Force fighter jets have started protecting NATO's
eastern flank, close to the Black Sea, following a handover
ceremony today in Romania.
Six RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft are taking part in the
four-month mission, with jets from IX (Bomber) Squadron, along
with more than two hundred RAF personnel from 140 Expeditionary
Air Wing (140EAW) deployed from RAF Lossiemouth to Mihail
Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania. They will fly alongside the
Romanian Air Force as part of NATO's enhanced Air Policing
mission (eAP) until August.
The air policing mission begins this week following a ceremony
today involving RAF personnel, their Romanian counterparts, and
NATO officials. The personnel involved in the mission will be on
standby at a moment's notice to launch Quick Reaction Alert (QRA)
intercepts of Russian aircraft approaching NATO airspace.
Defence Secretary 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.
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.
Personnel from 140EAW could be required to launch in their
fighter jets to intercept Russian aircraft that do not liaise
with NATO-controlled regional air traffic agencies and do not
file flight plans, therefore failing to adhere to international
norms. This, in turn, creates a flight safety risk that must be
investigated and monitored by NATO aircraft to ensure the safety
of all air traffic in the region.
Aircraft frequently intercepted by the RAF during previous air
policing missions include Russian long-range strategic bombers,
surveillance aircraft, and transport aircraft. QRA intercepts are
key to maintaining airspace security and protecting international
borders, as well as acting as a clear deterrent against threats.
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.
Enhanced Air Policing deployments are planned in advance and
rotate between NATO Allied Air Forces, ensuring collective
deterrence and defence protecting and securing the integrity of
NATO's airspace.
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 eAP 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.
The air policing mission is part of the UK's wider commitment to
NATO and the security of its eastern flank, alongside the
presence of around a thousand British soldiers in Estonia as part
of NATO's enhanced Forward Presence.
