The Royal Air Force’s IX (Bomber) Squadron is currently deployed at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania, where it contributes to NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission.
The deployment comes at a time of heightened tension, with the conflict in Ukraine unfolding just across the border, according to a press release from Eurofighter.
Squadron Leader Declan Monaghan, leading the deployment, has been clear about the delicate nature of their mission. He was quoted as saying:
“When I briefed the entire deployment, I wanted to put into clear focus where we are geographically in the world and underscore how important providing that deterrence for NATO is,” Monaghan said. He spoke of the need to maintain a defensive posture without escalating tensions, noting the proximity to conflict.
“100 miles is not very far when you’re in a Typhoon; it’s a matter of minutes.”
The RAF’s mission in Romania is twofold: providing air policing and engaging in joint training exercises with NATO allies. These exercises, which include operations alongside the Romanian Air Force’s F-16s and a detachment from the Finnish Air Force, are vital for ensuring that NATO forces can operate cohesively.
“We aim to make the total greater than the sum of the parts,” Monaghan explained, stressing the importance of being well-prepared to operate as a unified force if needed.
Monaghan also discused the agility of the Typhoon aircraft, which are designed for Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions.
“Typhoon can be at 30,000ft in less than a minute. Compared to other jets, it has an abundance of pure power,” he noted.
Behind the scenes, a dedicated team of over 200 personnel from the 140 Expeditionary Air Wing supports the squadron’s operations. This includes engineers, logistics staff, and medical professionals, all working together to ensure the success of the mission. Squadron Leader Bernard Nissenbaum, Senior Engineering Officer of IX(B) Squadron, spoke about the rigorous planning and preparation that goes into such deployments, from maintaining aircraft readiness to ensuring the well-being of the personnel.
The RAF’s presence in Romania reminds us of the delicate balance NATO forces must maintain in the region.
Why is (spelling) Transdenestria, not completely isolated from supplies?
No Russian aircraft should be allowed to land there; we would soon see a collapse in morale with Russian occupation forces.
I’d also blockade Kaliningrad from landline LOCs and let the barstewards feel the good news.
A dead Russian is a good Russian; I know, I taught them.
Occupied Transnistria is a province of Moldova which has a 1.8% ruzzian population. So kaputin is up to his usual expansive mischief using the USSR ruzification legacy of Joe Stalin. Moldova was annexed from Romania during the USSR era and there is much in common between them to this day. However Moldova is an EU candidate country and member of the North Atlantic Alliance, not a NATO member like Romania. So Air Policing Missions are not possible thought relations between Romania and Moldova could enable collaboration outside the NATO context. It would make sense to start with the air domain… Read more »