UK fighter jets have commenced their inaugural NATO policing mission over Poland following Russian airspace violations. The mission involved RAF Typhoons departing from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday night to provide additional air defense for the Eastern European nation. The fighter jets, operating under the call signs “chaos 1-1” and “chaos 1-2,” patrolled near Belarusian and Russian airspace.
The first NATO “Eastern Sentry” operation by the UK did not report any significant incidents. The mission took place 10 days after Russian drones breached Polish airspace and six days after another Russian drone was intercepted over Romania. These events prompted warnings from Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk about the escalating tensions, with Estonia also reporting Russian jets entering its airspace without authorization.
Multiple NATO countries, including Denmark, France, and Germany, are conducting patrols on the eastern flank. During the mission, refueling operations were smoothly executed aboard a Voyager aircraft, with the fighter jets refueled north of Hamburg and 70 miles from the Belarusian border. The refueling process occurred over the area where 19 Russian drones were previously downed.
Equipped with advanced sensors and air-to-air missiles, the jets refueled at around 25,000ft while the Voyager maintained speeds of approximately 439mph. After a successful refueling exercise, the Voyager pilots signed off with “happy hunting.” The UK pilots and crew participating in the mission were praised by Defense Secretary John Healey for their commitment to defending shared security interests with Poland.
Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, highlighted the RAF’s strong partnership with NATO, emphasizing the UK’s unwavering dedication to supporting NATO and its allies. The operational mission on Eastern Sentry showcased the UK’s readiness to project airpower and reinforce defense and deterrence efforts alongside NATO allies.
Over 400 UK personnel are set to contribute to NATO patrolling missions in eastern Europe, underscoring the collective commitment to upholding security and stability in the region.
