RAF deploys four Typhoon jets to support Nato air policing mission

The UK Royal Air Force (RAF) has deployed four Typhoon jets to support Nato Baltic air policing mission over Baltic states, including Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

The latest move, aimed at beefing up Nato’s defences in eastern Europe, comes in the wake of mounting crisis in Ukraine and Russia’s inclusion of Crimea.

RAF’s latest Typhoon task for four months comes six weeks after the deployment of UK Sentry E-3D aircraft into Polish and Romanian airspace to grant further support to allies.

UK Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said in the wake of recent events in Ukraine, it is right that Nato takes steps to reaffirm very publicly its commitment to the collective security of its members.

"As a leading member of Nato, the UK is playing a central role, underlined by today’s deployment of RAF Typhoon aircraft to Lithuania," Hammond added.

"This, alongside the other action we are taking, will provide reassurance to our Nato allies in eastern Europe and the Baltic states."

As part of the move, the Typhoons and six Polish jets will conquest from a US squadron to patrol the coalition’s eastern borders.

Based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and RAF Leuchars in Fife, the RAF’s Typhoon FGR4 has also been used as part of the ‘Quick Reaction Alert’ to offer air patrolling within UK airspace and also in the Falkland Islands.

The multi-role combat aircraft can also be deployed in the full spectrum of air operations, ranging from air policing to high intensity conflict.

Image: RAF’s Typhoon heading towards Baltic from RAF Coningsby. Photo: Courtesy of Senior Aircraftman Chris Ellis, Crown copyright.