RAF Typhoons på jobb over Baltikum

My name is Su(-27)!

by Craig Hoyle on 19 June, 2014 in Defence with a 'C'

The Royal Air Force detachment flying Eurofighter Typhoons in support of NATO’s Baltic Air Policing (BAP) mission had an interesting day at the office in Lithuania earlier this week.

On 17 June, the quick reaction alert at Siauliai air base was put into action, in response to “four separate groups of aircraft in international airspace near to the Baltic States”. These turned out to be a Russian air force training formation of a Tupolev Tu-22 bomber, Beriev A-50 airborne early warning aircraft, four Sukhoi Su-27s and an Antonov An-26 transport.

The Crown Copyright image below shows how close a look the pair of RAF Typhoons took at their counterpart fighters, which the UK says were monitored and then “escorted on their way”.

The RAF’s 3 Sqn has been supporting the current Polish air force-led BAP rotation at Siauliai since 1 May.