British jets prepare to once again patrol NATO border

The Royal Air Force and German Air Force are currently undergoing training to execute the first integrated NATO Air Policing mission.

In April, the German Air Force, currently deployed in Estonia, will hand over the leadership responsibility for the longstanding NATO Air Policing mission to an RAF Expeditionary Air Wing, including IX(Bomber) Squadron based at RAF Lossiemouth.

Before taking on the NATO mission’s leadership, elements of the RAF detachment will integrate into the German detachment in Estonia, conducting joint sorties during March. Following the NATO mission’s handover, a German detachment will remain integrated into the RAF-led mission, conducting joint sorties throughout April.

This marks the latest in a series of exercises and deployments conducted by the two air forces over several years with the ultimate goal of executing a fully joint and integrated NATO air mission.

While joint NATO sorties have occurred in the past, the level and length of integration planned for this mission represents a first for NATO Air Policing.

Commenting on the deployment Air Marshal Harv Smyth, the RAF’s Deputy Commander Operations said in a press release:

“NATO Air Policing is our bread and butter business, but what’s different about this particular deployment is the fact that we are operating as a combined unit with our German counterparts. Under this construct, we learn from each other more rapidly, and combine our strengths to become greater than the sum of the parts.

NATO is the cornerstone of Europe’s defence, and proving our two nations can work seamlessly together in this way, providing essential Control of the Air capabilities on our Eastern Flank, proves to our potential adversaries that the NATO alliance is stronger than ever.”