Typhoon jets and Royal Air Force personnel are deploying to
Romania to join the long-standing NATO Air Policing mission for
the Black Sea region.
The 4 deploying Typhoon jets from 3 (Fighter) Squadron are
normally based at RAF Coningsby, and will conduct the NATO Air
Policing mission from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base on the
Romanian Black Sea coast. The mission is supported by 150 RAF
personnel based at RAF Wittering who form the Headquarters of an
Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW). The personnel recently undertook
training at RAF Leeming’s Operational Training Centre.
Minister for the Armed Forces said:
The UK remains committed to NATO and European security in the
face of Russian aggression and the unprovoked invasion of
Ukraine.
Operation Biloxi is a long-standing NATO mission and the Royal
Air Force are playing a central role in security and deterrence
in Europe.
Air policing is a purely defensive operation and a permanent NATO
mission which began in 1961 during the Cold War. The mission
ensures the security and integrity of all NATO Alliance member’s
airspaces. Airspace is monitored by operations centres and where
it is assessed that an interception is required, NATO aircraft
can be scrambled as part of a Quick Reaction Alert. The UK
supports Romania by augmenting its own capabilities.
The RAF deployment to Romania has been supported by personnel
from No 1 Expeditionary Logistics Squadron and No 2 Mechanical
Transport Squadron, part of the RAF Support Force formed in 2020.
Both squadrons have prepared and transported equipment and
supplies to maintain and sustain the Typhoon jets during the
mission.
Air Vice-Marshal Phil Robinson, Officer Commanding 11
Group said:
The arrival of our personnel and equipment in the region
highlights the RAF’s continued commitment and contribution to the
NATO Air Policing mission in Romania.
During the deployment, we will be working alongside our Romanian
and other NATO partners, enabling the delivery of the mission and
protecting and reassuring our allies, whilst building confidence
and maintaining deterrence.
Operation Biloxi is the British name for the NATO Air Policing
mission – it is the fourth time since 2017 that the RAF have
conducted it. The NATO mission enhances the national air policing
conducted by the Romanian Air Force and will see the RAF Typhoons
mirror the Quick Reaction Alert mission that is conducted
routinely in the UK.
This deployment is in addition to long-standing continuous
missions undertaken by NATO Allies across the Eastern Flank.
