RAF Typhoons arrive in Romania to take on Nato policing role and intercept Russian interlopers

Six Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter aircraft have arrived in Romania ready to protect Nato's eastern flank, close to the Black Sea.

The fighter jets from IX (Bomber) Squadron took part in a handover ceremony ahead of their four-month mission, which will involve more than 200 RAF personnel from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (140EAW) deployed from RAF Lossiemouth.

They will fly alongside the Romanian air force as part of Nato's enhanced Air Policing mission (eAP) until August.

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The personnel involved in this mission will be on standby ready to launch Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) intercepts of Russian aircraft approaching Nato airspace.

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."

Countries involved in Nato's air policing missions rotate regularly, with the RAF having intercepted more than 50 Russian aircraft in the first half of last year while leading the alliance's eAP mission from Estonia.

This will be the fifth time the RAF has participated in the air policing mission in Romania. In 2022, four jets from the 3 (Fighter) Squadron helped secure the Black Sea region, working from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base.

Aircraft frequently intercepted by the RAF during previous air policing missions include Russian long-range strategic bombers, surveillance and transport aircraft.

Air power capability

Air Commodore Martin Cunningham, 11 Group Assistant Chief of Staff of Operations, emphasised how proud the RAF was to be back in Romania and part of the UK's contribution to Nato.

"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," Air Cdre Cunningham said.

"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."

Nato's eAP

Introduced in 2014 to the south, Nato's enhanced air policing was to reassure allied populations along the eastern flank after Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula.

To ensure Nato is ready to secure the skies 24/7, Wing Commander Karl Bird, the Commanding Officer of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, said these missions "contribute to the development of the reaction and deterrence capacity and is a strong sign of the alliance's cohesion".

The air policing mission is part of the UK's wider commitment to Nato and the security of its eastern flank.