The Defence Secretary has today visited Royal Air Force personnel deployed to
Romania as part of the NATO Southern Air Policing mission in the country.
The
detachment of four Typhoon fighter jets from 3 Fighter Squadron has been based
in Mihail Kogalniceanu Airbase in south east Romania since May. Deployed for up
to four months, they are working alongside the Romanian Air Force to police the
skies over the Black Sea.
Noting the
partnership between the United Kingdom and Romania, Sir Michael said:
“The UK is
stepping up in its support for NATO’s collective defence from the north to the
south of the alliance. Through this deployment, RAF planes will be ready to
secure NATO airspace and provide reassurance to allies in the Black Sea
region.”
The Southern
Air Policing mission is the first time that NATO has deployed aircraft to the
reassure allies in the Black Sea region, with the UK being the first country in
rotation.
The visit
was part of a 2-day tour of Romania on 14 and 15 June which also included
Exercise NOBLE JUMP based at the Training Centre in Cincu where a thousand
British soldiers are taking part in the NATO military exercise.
Defence
Minister Gabriel Les was also present at the airbase where he in turn addressed
the gathering of British
and Romanian Air Force personnel, saying:
“We have great appreciation for the deployment
of Royal Air Force aircraft in Romania as part of the process to implement the
Action Plan for increasing NATO’s operational capacity and as part of our
Strategic Partnership”.
“The
presence in Romania of the Typhoon aircraft, which are some of the very best
fighter aircraft, is an excellent opportunity for joint training and action and
contributes to increasing air defence capacity for reaction and deterrence as
well as to strengthening interoperability between the two military forces”.
The EAW
comprises four Typhoon aircraft from No. 3 (Fighter) Squadron from RAF
Coningsby in Lincolnshire supported by around 150 personnel drawn from stations
across Britain.
Southern Air
Policing is part of NATO’s Assurance Measures introduced in 2014 to demonstrate
the collective resolve of Allies, the defensive nature of NATO, and to deter
Russia from aggression against Allies.
The RAF aircraft deployed to Romania are part of
the UK’s contribution to reassurance measures to ensure the operational
capability of NATO’s eastern flank. The eAP mission demonstrates NATO’s
flexible capabilities and readiness, underlining the commitment of Allies to
each other.
Editor: Sqn Ldr Toby Watkins
Images: Sgt Neil Bryden
© MOD Crown Copyright 2017
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