Chief Of The Air Staff Praises 'Extremely Successful' Op Biloxi

The Chief Of The Air Staff has hailed the work of RAF personnel protecting NATO airspace in Romania as "extremely successful". 

Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier praised the work of 1 and 2 Squadron whilst visiting their home of RAF Lossiemouth, as Operation Biloxi draws to a close.

The operation has seen RAF pilots spend alternate weeks on high-readiness standby to defend NATO’s airspace over the Black Sea, as part of NATO's enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission.

The mission was introduced after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and is now part of NATO’s assurance measures.

Four RAF Typhoons and around 150 personnel have been based at Mihail Kogalniceanu air base in southeast Romania.

Over a period of 4 months, the RAF has conducted 8 scrambles in response to 20 Russian aircraft travelling towards NATO airspace.

Last week, RAF Typhoons were scrambled to intercept a Russian Be-12 maritime patrol aircraft, just two days after the British jets shadowed two suspected Russian Su-30 Flanker aircraft over the Black Sea.

Forces News visited Mihail Kogalniceanu air base earlier this year.

Speaking to Forces News at RAF Lossiemouth, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier: "The men and women of the RAF and the Typhoon force - pilots, engineers and everyone who supports that effort have done a vitally important mission.

"We are there (in Romania) to reassure our NATO allies, we're there to deter aggression from Russia and it's been a very busy deployment this year, much more so than what we've seen in previous years with 8 scrambles against a total of 20 aircraft.

"I think we've been extremely successful in what we've set out to do." 

Pilots from RAF Lossiemouth have been operating in Romania as part of the eAP since April, Squadron Leader Roger Cruickskank, 2 Squadron, said: "Its a fantastic experience, especially as its a very rewarding one.

"It was actually only two days after we received the accreditation from NATO to do the enhanced Air Policing, that we had a live scramble and I was leading that pair to go and intercept a Russian aircraft.

"So, that was very satisfying to land." 

RAF Typhoons are expected to return to RAF Lossiemouth in the coming days, marking the end of a busy time for the pilots in eastern Europe.