In a recent deployment under the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) initiative, three Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon jets have been stationed temporarily in Tikkakoski, Finland, to participate in the United States-led exercise Swift Response.
This movement also supports ongoing training missions in Estonia.
The deployment highlights the RAF’s expeditionary capabilities and its readiness to rapidly mobilise and deploy air assets as needed.
Squadron Leader Nick Morrison-Smith, the Detachment Commander for the RAF’s participation in the exercise, noted the strategic mobility demonstrated by this operation. “We’re taking part in a number of training sorties which allows us to perform an agile combat employment demonstrating the UK’s capability to quickly move air assets around to where they’re most needed at any given time and return quickly onto the original tasking,” he said.
Swift Response is part of the larger NATO Steadfast Defender series, aimed at showcasing the readiness and interoperability of Allied forces across multiple domains. This year’s exercise includes approximately 3,650 U.S. participants and 9,500 from other NATO allies.
Morrison-Smith also highlighted the significance of working closely with Finnish forces, marking this as an opportunity to strengthen ties with one of NATO’s newest members. “It’s exciting to be a part of such a large multinational NATO-led exercise particularly working here with the Finnish our newest NATO Allies,” he stated, praising the professionalism and hospitality of the Finnish forces which facilitated a smooth deployment.
While engaged in Finland, the RAF Typhoons were also part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing missions in Romania, demonstrating the UK’s strategic reach and commitment to maintaining security along NATO’s eastern flanks.
“The exercise in the Baltic region will continue while we return to Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base. NATO arrangements for the mission in Romania have allowed us to prove our long-range deployability and ACE capability and continue to safeguard the skies on the Black Sea shores alongside our Romanian friends,” Morrison-Smith added.
If I understood the deployment correctly three Typhoons were deployed to Finland and then on to or back to Romania.
Whilst, this speaks to a very high level of capability for the people involved it also suggests that the RAF is spread rather thinly.
Well done to all involved and nice to see the RAF deploying Finland.
Now can we please get sensible about matching our armed forces the the threat, please…
Ever hopeful
CR
We definitely need to start pulling our fingers out here in the uk, we don’t have an armed forces that can defend its own shores let alone police the world with our colleges over seas. Please get a grip politician and delver a bigger budget and pay prises for our guys & girls in the ground.
I’ll second that if you don’t mind 🙏 🇬🇧
Let’s hope that all the talk of increased funding actually results in more airframes.
You can hope but it won’t. The defence budget has been cut by £3b as stated in the spring budget.
Any talk of increasing the budget is just more lies and nonsense. I can promise to be a millionaire by 2030 and until then no one can say I was wrong. If the tories are still in power and the defence budget has increased above inflation by 2030 I will request a meeting with Rishi and kiss his feet.
Yawn off
I’m lost, so just three jets in three places at almost the same time?
And tiffy numbers are being cut? Makes sense.
3 Typhoons will learn em.
So while in Finland they can’t be air policing in Romania.
3 jets is a bit strange. Thought it was always 2 or 4 aircraft. Nato standard is 4 ship I think.
If as I think 4 were deployed to Romania 1 must of been left behind for air policing.
The RAF need an urgent boost to get training, crews, airframe numbers stabilised.
Hi guys, bit off piste. Anybody know what if anything, this National Intrest blog sites`about? 😳 Can’t put me finger on it 😶🕳️🙃