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RAF Typhoons scrambled to investigate Russian aircraft over the Romanian Black Sea

Royal Air Force Typhoons based in Romania were launched on Tuesday 21st August in response to two suspected Russian Su-30 Flanker aircraft operating near NATO airspace over the Black Sea.

RAF-Typhoon

Launching from the Romanian Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near Constanta on the Black Sea coast, the RAF Typhoons responded to the aircraft which were heading south west towards NATO airspace from the Crimea.

The Russian fighter aircraft were repeating the recently seen activity in the air and were monitored by two Typhoons from 135 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW).  The RAF Typhoons were operating in accordance with the NATO Enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission, whereby the RAF operates alongside its NATO ally to deter Russian aggression, reassure Romania and assure NATO allies of the UK commitment to collective defence. 

“We were monitoring the activity from the Ops room as the Scramble was called. Everything went as planned with both of us, launching and heading east towards the two contacts. We had radar contact and shadowed the two aircraft as they flew through the Romanian Flight Information Region, but we never got within visual range to see them. It was a successful Operational mission, we achieved exactly what the UK Typhoons from 1 (Fighter) Squadron are expected to do as part of 135 EAW and the NATO enhanced Air Policing mission.”

Typhoon Pilot
1 (F) Squadron attached to 135 EAW