British Typhoon jets deploy to Finland

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.