REPORTS ON INTERCEPTION flights by RAF Lossiemouth based Typhoons are common place – but a single mission during a Baltic air patrol was very much out of the ordinary.
During their current NATO mission detachment jets on deployment from the Moray base intercepted no fewer than 10 Russian aircraft in a single Quick Reaction Alert mission.
Multiple groups of Russian aircraft were detected by NATO air defences in international airspace close to the Baltic States being protected by the RAF crews. When contact was made the Typhoon pilots identified four SU-34 fighters, four MiG-31’s and two An26 transporters – all apparently undertaking routine training flights.
Commenting on the unusual interception, the UK’s Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Fallon, said: “Once more the RAF and our state of the art Typhoon fighters have demonstrated our commitment to NATO’s collective defence.
“Air interceptions such as this highlight the vital importance of the UK’s contribution to the Baltic Air Policing mission and demonstrate our collective resolve to protect NATO airspace alongside our allies.”
The Typhoons monitored the Russian aircraft before escorting them on their way.
Four aircraft from 6 Squadron have been on a four-month deployment to the Baltic region since May. The Typhoons are part of collective security policing NATO’s eastern flank comprising of Estonia, Lithuania and Latvia.