RAF Typhoons currently deployed to Estonia and Cyprus have joined around 250 aircraft from 25 nations to take part in NATO’s largest air exercise of the year, Exercise Air Defender in Germany.
The RAF Typhoons come from 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, currently carrying out the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission in Estonia, and from 903 EAW based at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus, that are carrying out operations in the Eastern Mediterranean, Middle East, and Black Sea regions. In Germany the two detachments are operating from Hohn Air Base.
During the exercise they will be joined by 617 Squadron F-35B Lightnings, operating from RAF Marham and also supported by a RAF Brize Norton based Voyager to conduct Air to Air refuelling. The exercise, being hosted and organised by the German Air Force, will also see the largest forward deployment of the US Air National Guard since the end of the Cold War, thereby making it the largest NATO exercise of its type since then.
Air Marshal Harv Smyth, the RAF’s Air & Space Commander talked of how the RAF is demonstrating its agility and flexibility to deploy personnel and air assets, including F-35B Lightning, Voyager and Typhoon, from various UK and deployed locations.
“Air Defender is an excellent opportunity to showcase our ability to perform Agile Combat Employment deployments alongside our NATO Allies, with 140 EAW and 83 EAG Typhoon fighters deploying from Amari Airbase in Estonia and RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus. Our involvement in NATO’s largest ever air deployment exercise reinforces our collective preparedness to defend the entirety of the Alliance. It is also a prime opportunity for the RAF to learn from partner nations to improve our ability to contribute to multinational air operations.”
Air Marshal Harv Smyth
The main aim of the exercise is to test NATO’s collective aerial response to an attack on a member state. The exercise is being conducted from multiple locations inside and outside of Germany. In addition to the deployment phase of the exercise, participants will undergo realistic live-flying opportunities that are designed to improve interoperability and cooperation amongst participating nations.
"The exercise is the ultimate demonstration of the RAF’s ability to take part in large-scale warfighting scenarios by deploying assets forward from several units, including from already deployed locations. This deployment of air assets is a clear message of the credible defence that our combined air power can present to any potential adversary. Our efforts to ensure the availability of our aircraft is testament to the skill and commitment of all the personnel involved in the preparation, execution, and sustainment phases of this exercise."
Squadron Leader Edward Owen
Officer Commanding 140 EAW Detachment
The RAF Typhoons from 903 EAW will at the conclusion of their training sorties return to Cyprus as part of Operation Shader. Meanwhile, the Typhoons deployed from 140 EAW, will return to Estonia, where 140 EAW will hand over to the Spanish Air Force in August, the NATO mission.
