Page 9 - issue17.05.2019

Royal Air Force News Friday, May 17, 2019 P9

Typhoon boosts

Nato firepower

New squadron to guard UK skies against Putin aggression

TYPHOON POWER:
XI(F) Sqn chief Wg
Cdr Paul O’Grady with
German counterpartLt
Col Sebastian Fiedler
of the Luftwaffe
Tactical Fighter Wing
at Amari airbase in
Estonia. PHOTOS:
CPL ROB BOURNE

RAF and Luftwaffe join

forces on Eastern front

Simon Mander
RAF AND Luftwaffe Typhoons
INTERCEPTOR: RAF Typhoon could soon be scrambling
closes in on a Russian Air Force Bear together for the first time on
as it skirts UK space, inset below, a Nato Quick Reaction Alert
Russian SU 27 Flanker
missions it has been revealed.
The news comes as Coningsby-
“RAF Lossiemouth has and will 24/7, 365 days a year, with aircraft based XI(F) Sqn takes over
continue to play a key role in the from Lossiemouth and Coningsby Baltic Air Policing duties from
Defence of the United Kingdom, protecting northern and southern the German Richthofen Tactical
being ready to intercept potential UK airspace respectively. In Fighter Wing 71 at Ämari Airbase
airborne threats 24/7 and in recent months, Typhoons from in Estonia.
addition shortly becoming home Lossiemouth have been scrambled Officer Commanding XI(F),
to our nine new submarine four times as long-range Russian Wg Cdr Paul O’Grady, said:
hunting P-8A Poseidon Maritime bombers approached UK airspace. “We’ve got a lot to learn from our
Patrol Aircraft. Its squadrons conducted German colleagues and our two
“These will work with Nato Air Policing in air forces are working closer and
our Typhoon force Romania in 2018, closer together.
to patrol far out where they launched “We have two Luftwaffe pilots
into the Atlantic eight times in just starting on exchange at RAF
protecting the response to 20 Coningsby on the Typhoon Force.”
UK’s submarine- Russian aircraft. “We have the same aircraft but KEEPING NATO’S EASTERN PROMISE: AVM Duguid talks to XI Sqn personnel at
based nuclear Later this year there are some small differences Amari airbase in Estonia. PHOTO: CPL ROB BOURNE
deterrent and its aircraft will about how we do business and “These provide the basis for response to Russia’s occupation
two new aircraft deploy to Iceland we’re trying to bring it closer possible combined air policing of Ukraine. The mission involves
carriers. on a Nato Air together so that maybe in the mission in the future.” additional fighter detachments,
“I am proud to Policing mission, future we could have RAF and XI(F) Sqn – the world’s oldest controlled from the Combined Air
see our Combat Air while Coningsby- Luftwaffe Typhoons side by side dedicated fighter unit formed in Operations Centre at Uedem in
capabilities continue based Typhoons are on QRA.” 1915 – is the spearhead of 121 Germany, safeguarding Alliance
to grow, a necessity as they already in Estonia on a German Detachment Expeditionary Air Wing formed airspace in the Baltic region.
will undoubtedly continue to be similar task. Commander Ll Col Sebastian to keep four of the state-of- the-art Air Officer Commanding
in exceptionally high demand on The Typhoon can intercept the Fiedler said: “We had a very jets operating for several months Number 11 Group, Air Vice
operations, here in the UK and smallest light aircraft to the largest professional handover period away from home. Marshal Ian Duguid, said: “Our
across the world.” airliners and at supersonic speeds with our colleagues from the Nato Baltic Air Policing Nato allies can be reassured that
Quick Reaction Alert involves can reach all corners of the UK’s RAF and have already flown the codenamed Operation Azotize the UK’s commitment to the
the entire UK Air Defence system airspace within minutes of getting first sorties, mixing German and is part of a range of assurance Alliance remains as steadfast as
on standby at immediate readiness, airborne. British Eurofighters. measures introduced in 2014 in ever.”