After four months of operations, the Royal Air Force detachment of Typhoon fighters concluded its deployment to Estonia as part of the...
After four months of operations, the Royal Air Force detachment of Typhoon fighters concluded its deployment to Estonia as part of the NATO led, Baltic Air Policing mission to protect the airspace of the Baltic region.
On 25 August, RAF Lossiemouth’s 6 Squadron returned home to their Moray airbase after successfully carrying out the mission.
Since arriving in Estonia in May, the Typhoon fighters have been scrambled 17 times and have intercepted more than 40 Russian aircraft ranging from transports to long-range fighters.
In this time the Squadron has seen one of the busiest periods recorded, including the intercept of 10 Russian aircraft during a single mission.
As the concluding event in a series of commemorative occasions at Amari Air Base in Estonia, 121 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) handed over to the German 31st Tactical Air Wing.
The extensive tally of RAF intercepts during the 4 months totalled 17 launches and 36 aircraft, including; MiG-31BM ‘Foxhound’ fighters, Su-34 ‘Fullback’ fighters, Tu-22M3 ‘Backfire’ C bombers, An-26 ‘Curl’ surveillance aircraft and the first UK intercept of an A-50 ‘Mainstay’ airborne early warning and control aircraft.
6 Squadron will now continue routine flying at RAF Lossiemouth, which includes the defence of UK airspace.
