North Atlantic Treaty Organization
Allied Command Operations
May 7, 2015
Royal Air Force Typhoons arrive in Estonia for NATO Baltic Air Policing
ÄMARI AIRBASE, Estonia: The UK is once more taking its turn to enhance NATO’s Baltic Air Policing mission with four Typhoon aircraft. Deployed to Ämari airbase in Estonia, the Royal Air Force detachment will augment four Norwegian aircraft in Lithuania as well as Italian and Belgian jets to safeguard the air space of the Baltic states through until the end of August.
The Estonian Minister for Foreign Affairs welcomed the RAF as a “demonstration of Alliance solidarity carrying a visible sign and sound, which was the whisper of freedom”. The RAF detachment, 121 Expeditionary Air Wing, led by Wing Commander Stu Smiley took over the NATO task from the Spanish in front of Air Vice Marshal Gary Waterfall, Air Officer Commanding No 1 Group, responsible for the RAF’s fast jet capability.
Having arrived directly from RAF Lossiemouth, after a journey of a little over two hours the four jets from 6(F) Squadron of the Royal Air Force are set to play their part in ensuring that aircraft are available on high readiness ground alert to investigate any unknown approaches to the Baltic air space. The jets will also carry out training and practice scrambles.
NATO Baltic Air Policing missions have been carried out continuously since 2004. NATO Allies have been taking turns deploying their interceptors and staff in the Baltic States to ensure safety and security of the skies over Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania The Royal Air Force’s previous roulement was in 2014, based out of Lithuania.”
Story by the FltLt Cameron Rennie, Public Affairs Officer of the RAF BAP detachment at Ämari, Estonia
Source