RAF completes successful air policing mission in Romania without any live scrambles

The Royal Air Force concluded its four-month air policing deployment in Romania without needing to conduct any live scrambles, a notable shift from previous years.

The operation, part of Nato's assurance measures following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, saw RAF pilots alternating weeks on standby, ready to respond to potential threats.

"The fact we have not had to conduct a live scramble shows the collective power of the Romanian, Finnish, and UK forces as a deterrent to our adversaries," said Wing Commander Bird, Commanding Officer of the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing.

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"The men and women of the 140 EAW and IX(B) Squadron have done an incredible job this deployment," said Wing Commander Bird.

The deployment, named Operation Biloxi, wrapped up with a closing ceremony attended by personnel from the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) and IX(B) Squadron, alongside their Finnish and Romanian counterparts.

Based at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in southeast Romania, six RAF Typhoons and approximately 200 personnel were on high-readiness standby to defend Nato's airspace over the Black Sea.

During the deployment, the RAF participated in exercises in Finland and Poland and conducted training with other Nato partners.

The ceremony also featured Major General Baraboi, Chief of the Romanian Air Force, who presented awards to RAF personnel for their outstanding support and professionalism during the mission.

With the Spanish Air Force set to assume the enhanced Air Policing responsibilities in the region, the RAF Typhoons will return to RAF Lossiemouth next week, marking the end of a successful deployment.