RAMSTEIN, Germany – On 11 May pilots of the Royal Air Force (RAF) detachment based in Romania under NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission have been taking part in a maritime exercise with NATO allies in the Black Sea, led by the Romanian Navy Fleet Command. The participation of RAF jets in the exercise provided an opportunity to train and enhance interoperability between the two Allied Air Forces as well as with Allied Naval Forces.

 

Missions trained amongst others were the defence of naval assets against incoming hostile aircraft. RAF jets joined up with two Romanian MiG 21s over the Black Sea, successfully safeguarding HMS Duncan from a computer simulated threat. Squadron Leader Roger Cruickshank, pilot of one of the involved RAF Typhoon jets said: "This was a fantastic symbol of how we are closely working together with our NATO allies and a historic moment as part of Exercise Sea Shield.”

 

The RAF detachment personnel have been working closely with involved NATO Allies to co-ordinate the air aspect of Exercise Sea Shield, which is a joint exercise based on a potential crisis scenario occurring, testing the reactions and agility of NATO forces.

 

The Royal Air Force detachment is currently based at Mihail Kogalniceanu in southern Romania under NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission, securing the skies alongside Romanian Air Force pilots. Enhanced Air Policing is part of NATO’s Assurance Measures introduced in 2014. At the time the Alliance started implementing these Assurance Measures with the goal to demonstrate the collective resolve of Allies, demonstrate the defensive nature of NATO and deter Russia from aggression or the threat of aggression against NATO Allies.