Six Typhoons from IX (B) Squadron, RAF Lossiemouth, along with personnel from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) return from their 4-month deployment in Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania.
The RAF has successfully completed its NATO Air Policing mission near the Black Sea coast. NATO Air Policing is a longstanding mission, initiated in 1961, that maintains the integrity, safety, and security of NATO airspace. Air policing forms part of NATO’s assurance measures introduced in 2014. These measures were implemented to demonstrate the Allies' collective resolve, underscore NATO’s defensive nature, and deter Russian aggression against NATO members.
“As we come to the end of our 4 months here at MK Air Base, deterrence has clearly worked. The combined power of the Finnish, Romanian and Royal Air Force detachments has meant that during our time here we have not had to conduct any live scrambles against our adversaries.”
Wing Commander Bird
Commanding Officer 140 EAW
During the deployment, referred to as Operation Biloxi, the RAF participated in exercises with NATO allies and flew more than 150 sorties / 500 hours, they forward deployed three Typhoons and approximately fifty personnel from Romania on Exercise Swift Response in Finland and Exercise Astral Knight in Poland.
The Air Policing mission was shared with the Finnish Air Force who were participating in their first ever NATO Air Policing mission since joining the Alliance last year. The RAF Typhoons and Finnish F-18’s alternated weekly responsibility of holding a high readiness state called Quick Reaction Alert.
“The breadth of experience, across all trades and branches in 140 EAW, truly allows us to support the flying activity carried out and make sure that we demonstrate the best of what the Royal Air Force can provide. The Spanish Air Force will now assume the Air Policing role in Romania and, as we look forward to returning home to family and friends, we wish them safe flying and a successful mission.”
Wing Commander Bird
