Royal Air Force (RAF) Support Force units from RAF Wittering, UK have begun deploying equipment ready to launch this year’s RAF contribution to the NATO enhanced Air Policing Mission from Romania. The RAF NATO mission will see RAF Support Force engineering and logistics personnel being based at Mihail Kogălniceanu air base, Romania. The deploying personnel are responsible for moving RAF military equipment across the European continent to set up and then sustain the operation. Logistical specialists are preparing and transporting the equipment and supplies needed to sustain the Typhoon jets. They will deploy to carry out the NATO enhanced Air Policing mission in the Black Sea region this summer in support of the Alliance’s deterrence and defence measures.
“In many ways, this is what the Support Force is all about, making sure that the right equipment is in the right place at the right time. It sounds like a simple thing, but modern air power depends entirely on having the right kit on the ground, ensuring those aircraft and their crews are appropriately supported,” said Group Captain Jo Lincoln, Deputy Commander of the RAF Support Force.
The RAF is a regular contributor to NATO enhanced Air Policing in Romania controlled by NATO’s Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) at Torrejón, Spain. In Romania, the detachment will continue to showcase Alliance solidarity and cohesion under enhanced Air Policing. Besides patrolling national airspace, the RAF has also conducted several deployments leading and augmenting NATO’s Air Policing mission in the Baltic States controlled by the CAOC at Uedem, Germany. NATO introduced this defensive mission in 2014 to demonstrate the collective resolve of the Alliance, underline the defensive nature of NATO and deter Russia from aggression or the threat of aggression against NATO Allies.
