First for Finnish F/A-18 Hornets as they lead the way on Nato mission in Romania

For the first time, fighter jets from Finland have been certified to join Nato's Air Policing mission in the skies above Romania.

Seven Finnish F/A-18 Hornets will now fly Air Policing sorties alongside Royal Air Force Typhoons after they received their mission-ready certificates from the Deputy Commander of Nato's Southern Combined Air Operations Centre, Brigadier General Avraam Kazantzoglou.

"Having the Finnish detachment deploy to Romania a bit over a year after Finland became a Nato member, together with the Royal Air Force, is a crystal-clear message that we stand together as allies," he said.

• RAF Typhoons arrive in Romania to take on Nato policing role and intercept Russian interlopers
• RAF takes command of Nato air policing mission in Estonia
• Foreign Secretary meets the RAF fighter pilots policing Nato's airspace

"The Euro-Atlantic area is not at peace, as our interests, values and democratic way of life are challenged, but Nato is determined to safeguard the freedom and security of allies against any and every threat.

"Nato does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to the Russian Federation.

"We will continue to respond to Russian threats and hostile actions in a united and responsible way."

The certificates were accepted by the F/A-18 Detachment Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Rami Lindström, and the Hornets will soon be operating alongside their other Nato counterparts.

The aircraft will be deployed from Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base and lead the mission until the end of July.

Pilots will be tasked with collectively responding to potential threats to Romanian airspace.

Both the Finnish and British fighter jets have also taken part in allied training activities, assurance measures and combined joint manoeuvres in the region and beyond.

Lt Col Lindström said: "Finland joined Nato last year, so this two-month deployment to Romania will be the Finnish Air Force's first-ever major contribution to Nato's collective peacetime missions.

"Last week, we demonstrated during an evaluation that our detachment knows Nato tactics, techniques and procedures and is ready to assume Quick Reaction Alert duty here at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base.

"Our presence and readiness, in close co-operation with the Royal Air Force and the Romanian air force, will contribute to Nato's collective defence and deterrence here in the Black Sea region."