A few days after the incursion of Russian MiG-31 fighters into Estonian airspace, Eurofighter fighters of the Royal Air Force (RAF) carried out their first flights in support of Operation Eastern Sentry, with the objective of strengthening NATO’s surveillance capabilities in times of increasing tensions with Russia. According to official channels, the first flights were carried out by two fighters from the 3rd Fighter Squadron based at RAF Coningsby, complemented by a Voyager tanker aircraft from the 101st Squadron deployed from RAF Brize Norton.
Regarding these matters, the current commander of the RAF, Air Marshal Allan Marshall, stated: “RAF Typhoons, taking off from RAF Coningsby and supported by air-to-air refueling aircraft from RAF Brize Norton, joined our NATO partners to strengthen the eastern flank. This deployment underscores the readiness and capability of the RAF to project its air power with speed and determination (…) These missions will not only strengthen NATO’s air defenses but also serve as a deterrent against Russian aggression, while maintaining the RAF’s commitment to defending the skies of the United Kingdom and many other operational activities at home and abroad.”
It is worth noting at this point that Operation Eastern Sentry is carried out not only by personnel and aircraft of the Royal Air Force, but also by other NATO allies operating together to ensure the security of the Alliance’s eastern flank. Specifically, elements from Germany, Denmark, and France are participating, whose fighters represent a key capability that the Baltic states lack. In turn, the deployment of fighters is reinforced by air defense batteries, among which NASAMS and Patriot systems stand out.
Directly related to the latter, it must be recalled the events of last Friday, when the aforementioned MiG-31s of the Russian Aerospace Forces entered Estonian territory for a period of twelve minutes, more specifically over the island of Vaindloo, which is located about 96 kilometers from the Kaliningrad enclave. Subsequently, the aircraft were intercepted by F-35A stealth fighters of the Italian Air Force and JAS-39 Gripens of the Swedish Air Force, who observed that the aircraft sent by Moscow were carrying R-73 air-to-air missiles. Shortly after, the German Air Force also revealed that its aircraft intercepted a Russian signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft flying near NATO airspace, highlighting the increasing activity in the region.
Broadening the lens on recent Russian activity in Eastern Europe, it must also be mentioned that on September 9, Poland reported the entry of between 19 and 23 drones into its airspace. The event was considered a new Russian provocation, and with the activation of a Quick Reaction Alert, Polish F-16s and Dutch F-35s were deployed; shortly afterward, France decided to reinforce its presence in the region with the deployment of three additional Rafale fighters. From Warsaw, the Polish government also denounced new attempts to carry out similar incursions in the following days, stating that they were Moscow’s attempts to test the allies’ response to such incidents.
*Image credits: RAF
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