RAF Typhoon fighters join Polish F-16 counterparts for Nato's Exercise Astral Knight
Royal Air Force Typhoons from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW), deployed to Romania on enhanced Air Policing have joined Exercise Astral Knight 24, conducting an integrated air and missile defence (IAMD) exercise in Poland.
More than 50 serving personnel from 140 EAW flew out from Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase to the 31st Air Base in Krzesiny, commonly known as Poznań-Krzesiny Airport, to support three Typhoons from IX(Bomber) Squadron performing joint air operations with the Polish Air Force F-16s.
Exercise Astral Knight 24 is part of a large-scale global exercise (LSGE) and tests armed forces against multi-regional integrated air and missile defence dilemmas.
More than 5,000 personnel from the UK, US, Poland, Greece, Lithuania, and Denmark have taken part.
RAF pilot Flight Lieutenant Clarke said: "Our role in the exercise is conducting DCA, which stands for Defensive Counter Air, we're going up and acting in very much defensive posture against a simulated attack on European countries.
"There's been a lot of nations contributing to this exercise, and we've all learned a lot from each other on how to move forward as part of Nato."
He added: "We're very grateful for all their support throughout the exercise, and we look forward to working with them again in the near future."
RAF ground personnel have been working closely with the Polish Air Force 1st Maintenance Unit, The Ravens.
Squadron Leader Bernett, Commander of the 140 EAW Ex Astral Knight Detachment, said: "As a Polish speaker, it's given me the opportunity to help the detachment integrate better with the Polish Air Force, building better relations at all levels.
"Working with the Polish Air Force has been a very good experience for our personnel.
"They have modern aircraft similar to our own and are very keen to learn from us as we are from them."
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