RAF Typhoons Touch Down in Lithuania to Guard NATO Skies This Summer
The Royal Air Force is back in the Baltic airspace, sending Typhoon jets from RAF Lossiemouth to Lithuania for a crucial summer mission protecting NATO territory.
Patrolling Baltic Skies with Spanish F-18s
Stationed at Siauliai Air Base, the Typhoons will team up with Spanish Air Force F-18 fighters to patrol and secure NATO airspace over Lithuania. Their job? Hunt down aircraft flying without a flight plan or with transponders switched off, ensuring no unauthorised incursions go unchecked.
150 RAF Personnel on the Frontline
About 150 RAF staff, forming the 135 Expeditionary Air Wing, have deployed for Operation Azotize, the UK’s latest effort supporting NATO Baltic Air Policing. All Covid-19 safety protocols have been strictly observed, proving the mission goes on despite the pandemic.
Defence Secretary: “Covid Won’t Stop UK Defending NATO”
“Britain’s adversaries will not let Covid-19 stop them threatening our citizens and allies. That’s why the UK Armed Forces continue operations at home and abroad – ensuring NATO’s collective defence and our national security,” insisted Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
Strong UK Commitment to NATO’s Eastern Flank
This deployment underlines Britain’s rock-solid commitment to Euro-Atlantic defence. Meanwhile, over 800 British Army troops stand guard in Estonia as NATO’s lead battlegroup on the front line.
Last summer, RAF Typhoons from Coningsby scrambled 21 times to intercept 56 Russian aircraft over four months during their Baltic Air Policing deployment in Estonia. The RAF has a proud track record, with missions in Lithuania (2014) and Estonia (2016), plus support for NATO operations in Romania (2018) and Iceland (last year).
