Four UK Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons have landed in the Falkland Islands to replace the fleet of Panavia Tornado F3s currently employed as the island air defence enforcers.

The Typhoons left RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on 12 September and were flown to the South Atlantic with the support of in-flight refuelling aircraft.

The fighters, drawn from the RAF’s 3 Squadron, are armed with MBDA Asraam short-range air-to-air missiles and are also equipped with an internally housed 27mm Mauser cannon.

The mission to the Falklands Islands is the first frontline overseas commitment for the RAF Typhoons since the fleet entered service.