British fighter have completed their first Nato policing mission over Poland since Russian drones violated of the country’s airspace.
RAF Typhoons sett off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday night (19 September) and patrolled the skies in the area where 19 drones were shot down earlier this month.
The mission comes after the Government announced on Monday it would provide further air defence over the eastern European nation.
Fighter jets, which were given the call signs “chaos 1-1” and “chaos 1-2”, patrolled close to Belarusian and Russian airspace.
Nothing significant was reported from the UK’s first Nato “Eastern Sentry” operation.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the RAF pilots and crew were “standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security” by carrying out the mission.
He said: “RAF Typhoons have now flown their first air defence mission over Poland, sending a clear signal: Nato airspace will be defended.
“I’m proud of the outstanding British pilots and air crew who took part in this successful operation to defend our Allies from reckless Russian aggression.
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“This weekend, as we honour the heroism of the Battle of Britain generation, it is especially poignant that RAF pilots and crew are once again standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared security – making us secure at home and strong abroad.”
The fighter jets, which were accompanied by a Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft, embarked on the mission 10 days after Russian drones entered Polish airspace.
It also came six days after another Russian drone was intercepted flying over Romania.
The drones incursion prompted Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk to warn that his country was the closest to “open conflict” it had been since the Second World War.
Estonia’s foreign ministry also said three Russian jets entered its airspace without permission on Friday and remained there for 12 minutes.
The UK is not the only Nato country patrolling the eastern flank – missions have also been coordinated alongside Denmark, France and Germany.
Aircraft refuelled for a second time over where 19 Russian drones were shot down earlier this month.
The jets, equipped with advanced sensors and infrared-guided advanced short-range air-to-air missiles, refuelled at around 25,000ft while the Voyager was travelling at speeds of approximately 439mph.
Pilots on board the Voyager signed off the refuelling exercise by saying “happy hunting”.
The Voyager pilots found out about their first Nato policing mission on Thursday, after originally being scheduled to take part in a UK-based training exercise.
As the Typhoon jets patrolled the eastern flank, the refuelling aircraft circled further inland in a pattern that pilots describe as a “race track” – awaiting the next refuelling exercise.
More than 400 UK personnel are due to support the Nato patrolling missions in eastern Europe.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, said: “Our partnership with Nato has never been stronger.
“This sortie marks the RAF’s first operational mission on Eastern Sentry, reinforcing the UK’s steadfast commitment to Nato and its allies.
“RAF Typhoons, supported by Voyager air-air refuelling aircraft, joined allies along the eastern flank to bolster Nato defence and deterrence.
“We remain agile, integrated, and ready to project airpower at range.”
Additional reporting by Press Association.
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