Lossie jets launched nine times against 'suspicious' aircraft during NATO mission
The Royal Air Force detachment that has been conducting the NATO enhanced Air Policing Mission in Romania has handed over the mission to the Royal Canadian Air Force.
The RAF’s, 121 Expeditionary Air Wing has been based at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, near the Black Sea Coast in Romania to support the Romanian Air Force’s own Quick Reaction Alert to conduct the mission.
During the RAF deployment the Typhoons of RAF Lossiemouth based IX(B) Sqn launched nine times against suspect aircraft.
The incoming Canadian detachment, of approximately 150 personnel and known as the RCAF-Air Task Force Romania will be operating six CF-188 Hornet. The Hornets come from 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron and are usually based at Cold Lake Air Base in Canada.
Lieutenant Colonel Corey Mask, the Commander of ATF Romania, said: “We are happy to return to Romania once again, collaborating with our allies in the Romanian Air Force, as well
as our other NATO partners in the region.”
This is the sixth time the Canadian Armed Forces have deployed an Air Task Force to Romania as part of Operation Reassurance, the Canadian operation name for their participation in NATO Air Policing missions. 409 Squadron last deployed to Romania in 2017.
During the RAF deployment to Romania in addition to the QRA scramble 121 EAW has also trained with various other Allied and Partner forces. This included Air Defence Exercise with NATO warships, Close Air Support with land forces and Air Combat Training with other NATO air forces.
121 EAW was also joined by the German Air Force’s 71st (Richthofen) Wing in June to further the interoperability of the two nations’ Typhoon fleets. This period saw the German Eurofighters join the RAF Typhoons and Romanian MiG-21 LanceRs conduct a joint training scramble, which was the first of its kind.
When the UK’s Carrier Strike Group was in the Mediterranean, 121 EAW Typhoons were able to conduct air combat training with F-35B Lightnings from the US Marine Corps and RAF over the Black Sea and also exercise with the HNLMS Evertsen and HMS Defender, operating alongside Romanian LanceRs.
Summing up the deployment the Commanding Officer of 121 EAW, Wg Cdr Stephen Lamping, said: “This deployment has not been straightforward, with the initial phases significantly constrained by Covid-19 and the recovery to the UK heavily impacted by the withdrawal from Afghanistan. However, I am proud to say that the personnel of 121 EAW have stepped up and delivered, both in the air and on the ground. Working with the Romanian Air Force and wider regional allies we have proven our commitment to NATO and enhanced stability in the Black Sea Region.”
Welcoming the squadron back to Scotland, Group Captain Chris Layden the RAF Lossiemouth Station Commander said: “I’m delighted to welcome IX(B) Sqn back from their very busy and successful tour in Romania. This was their first operational deployment as a Typhoon squadron, and the whole Station is proud of what they achieved, standing shoulder to shoulder with our NATO allies to help preserve security in a vitally important region.”
