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News story RAF TYPHOONS SCRAMBLE TWICE IN TWO DAYS TO INTERCEPT RUSSIAN AIRCRAFT Royal Air Force Typhoons deployed in Estonia scramble for the first time since taking over the NATO Baltic

Air Policing mission in the country. This was published under the 2016 to 2019 May Conservative government On Tuesday 14 May Typhoon jets launched a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) scramble out

of Ämari Air Base in response to two Russian SU-27 Flanker fighter aircraft and one IL-22 aircraft that were flying along the Baltic coast heading towards Kaliningrad. On Wednesday 15 May

Typhoons once again launched from Ämari to intercept another two SU-27 aircraft and an IL-22 and escorted the formation towards Russia. Minister for the Armed Forces Mark Lancaster said:

> At the same time as our troops forge stronger ties with NATO Allies > in Estonia, our RAF Typhoons are policing Baltic skies and providing > a rapid response to any approaches 

towards NATO airspace. > Together it sends a clear message – we are committed to defending > NATO’s borders and will support our Allies in deterring any > threats. These are the

first QRA scrambles since the RAF took over the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission from the German Air Force last month. Both were conducted in a safe and professional manner throughout. The

RAF operates alongside its NATO allies to deter Russian aggression and assure NATO allies of the UK’s commitment to collective defence. This is a routine NATO mission for the Typhoons which

provides reassurance that the UK is here to work in partnership with Estonia. Wing Commander Paul ‘Pablo’ O’Grady, who was conducting QRA duty when the first scramble was called, said: > 

On 14 May 19 my flight of QRA Typhoons were scrambled on a Baltic > Air Policing Mission tasked to intercept and identify an unknown > aircraft. Six minutes after take-off from Ämari 

Air Base, vectored > by Estonian fighter controllers, we closed quickly on a Russian > IL-22 which was being escorted by two Russian SU-27 fighters. > Flying alongside the Russian 

aircraft at a safe distance, myself and > my wingman (a United States Airforce Lt Col), ensured that the > Russian aircraft were safely escorted around Estonian airspace. The > 

Russian pilots and crews behaved in a professional and calm manner > with nothing untoward. We subsequently handed the Russian formation > over to the Hungarian QRA that had launched 

out of Lithuania to > continue the escort towards Kaliningrad. > This was the first Baltic Air Policing Mission of the Typhoon > Detachment providing assurance of our capability and

 demonstrating > the UK’s commitment to our NATO Allies. SHARE THIS PAGE The following links open in a new tab * Share on Facebook (opens in new tab) * Share on Twitter (opens in new tab)

UPDATES TO THIS PAGE Published 16 May 2019