The UK Royal Air Force's (RAF) Typhoon detachment was deployed to the Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) airbase near Constanta, Romania, in order to take part in Nato's enhanced air policing mission.
To secure Nato's airspace over Romania, four Typhoon FGR4s will operate alongside 150 personnel from the RAF.
The latest four-month deployment forms a part of the alliance's assurance measures introduced in 2014 to respond to new security challenges from the east and the south.
The measures include a series of land, sea and air activities in, on and around the territory of Nato allies in Central and Eastern Europe, which are strengthened by exercises focused on collective defence and crisis management.
RAF detachment commander, wing commander Coe said: "I am extremely heartened by the very warm welcome that we have received from both our Romanian hosts and American allies here at MK.”
To safeguard the integrity of the airspace over the country, Romania operates its own air surveillance and airspace management methods that involve Nato air policing under the control of Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) Torrejon, Nato stated.
The addition of British RAF aircraft expands the Romanian air policing assets and both air forces will conduct attacks in agreement with one another.
Before they start flying missions, the RAF Typhoons are currently conducting familiarisation flights and undergoing a certification by Nato experts from the CAOC Torrejon.
Nato has intensified air policing following the Russia-Ukraine crisis, and has increased the number of fighter jets deployed for air-policing patrols over the Baltic States since May 2014.
Image: RAF Typhoon FGR4s arrive at Mihail Kogalniceanu (MK) airbase near Constanta, Romania. Photo: courtesy of RAF.
