A Voyager tanker has flown from the UK to Estonia and back to refuel jets securing the skies over the Baltic state as part of Britain’s effort to help secure the Eastern border of NATO.
This has been ongoing for a number of weeks now, but it’s important to highlight why.
Since the beginning of Russia’s attack on Ukraine NATO has taken measures to shield its member States along the eastern flank from potential aggression. In the air, NATO’s Allied Air Command commands and employs military aircraft from the nations and NATO to execute enhanced Vigilance Activities.
A 🇬🇧 Royal Air Force Voyager tanker, ZZ335, is returning from a sortie out to Estonia and back supporting NATO efforts to secure skies over the Baltic states. The aircraft often deploys to refuel British and allied fighter aircraft in the region, extending their time in the air. pic.twitter.com/4xk7PEvoUH
— George Allison (@geoallison) July 18, 2022
NATO has substantially increased the number of fighter jets on alert across Eastern Europe in response to Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine.
The RAF say that Voyagers have been flying over Poland and East Europe refuelling Typhoons out RAF Coningsby and Lossiemouth as the RAF, Ministry of Defence, NATO and NATO Air Command continue with their uplift of aircraft in the Baltic States.
“The uplift is a means to strengthen the Alliance’s borders as a direct result of the aggression exhibited by Russia as they invade Ukraine.”
Allied Air Command Chief of Staff, Major General Jörg Lebert, was earlier quoted as saying:
“NATO air forces have bolstered their presence in the eastern part of the Alliance helping to shield NATO against any aggression. Several dozen fighter jets are on alert at any time to respond to possible airspace violations and to deter aggression. Allied Air Command integrates the Allied air forces’ fighters, air-to-air refuelling and transport aircraft as well as Allied and NATO airborne warning and control (AWACS) platforms into the standing arrangements to safeguard the skies above the Allies. These assets enable NATO to patrol the Allied airspace and have 24/7 situational awareness above NATO and adjacent territory.”
Here’s a map from NATO showing what’s going on where.
Allied fighters take off from their home bases, forward deployment bases or carriers flying Air Patrol missions along the Alliance’s eastern border, say NATO.
Looks impressive but seems a crazy waste of fuel, crew/airframe time and no doubt associated rental costs to the aircraft owners. That the RAF have proved many times that they can do it is without doubt. So why not operate a detatchment out of a northern Germany or Polish airbase? Much more environmentally sensible as well.
For the umpteenth time they are not my comrades. And NATO hasn’t expanded yet, a Swedish court threw a spanner in the works last week and Erdogan is back in haggle mode.
Oh dear here’s hoping eh in regard to NATO eh sad troll. Everyone can both condemn Putins murderous invasion of Ukraine (apart from you obviously) but also thank Putin and his stupidity in bringing NATO back together, both militarily and politically. Indeed the member state numbers is increasing, many thanks to your nonce boss!
Infrastructure to operate a Voyager, fuel supplies, crew rotations, many reasons why. If they can carry out the operation from home base, then that is the best option. All the engineering facilities are at Brize Norton, the crews can go home ect and easier to re-task the aircraft if they need too.
Yawn time, how’s your posting on the “the drive”? Using the same Communist/Nazi symbology and propaganda troll boy? We can all see now why you cannot condemn Putins illegal invasion of Ukraine, can’t we! Full time troll, part time courage! And, the easy question again, is Putins invasion of Ukraine an invasion or, do you call it a special military operation?
Looking at the map, there’s lots of NATO countries near by , could we not base the plane at one of their air fields, hopefully one that has the same planes, to help with servicing
Thanks Ian
Fuel supply? Brize N like other RAF stations is linked to the old GPSS fuel network.
Just because an airfield is local doesn’t mean it has the facilities to handle Voyager, and then there is the cost of a det, no idea if that would cost more compared to flying hours, fuel consumed, and so on.