RAF Typhoons join Exercise Swift Response in North Macedonia

Royal Air Force Typhoons based in Romania on Operation BILOXI have flown to North Macedonia to take part in a major NATO exercise.

The jets from 3 (Fighter) Squadron are currently based at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania as part of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing.

• In pictures: 2 PARA Battlegroup on exercise in North Macedonia
• RAF Typhoons deploy to Romania for NATO air policing
• UK's Global Response Force deploys on Exercise Swift Response

During Exercise Swift Response, the Typhoons joined more than 40 other aircraft and took part in a simulated Strike Co-ordination and Reconnaissance sortie.

They also took part in Close Air Support training with two Apache helicopters from Aviation Task Force 1 of the British Army.

"Conducting co-ordinated strikes between Typhoon and Apache proved to be excellent training, and helped to develop understanding on both sides of the utility of two very different aircraft, and their capabilities," Typhoon pilot Flight Lieutenant Travers said.

• Rare access into NATO's frontline air policing sorties over Romania
• Name of RAF's newest aircraft type revealed
• Ukraine: French jets in Estonia to bolster NATO airpower in Baltics

The manoeuvres in North Macedonia are just one element of the broader Exercise Swift Response, which sees multinational forces under the direction of the US Army conducting simultaneous training across Europe – from the High North to the Balkans.

The High North is the territories of Nordic countries – including Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden – located throughout the Arctic beyond the Polar Circle.