Two Royal Air Force Typhoons have flown to Portugal to conduct fighter integration training with their Portuguese counterparts. Flying from RAF Lossiemouth in Elgin, Scotland, the Typhoon FGR4 operated by IX (B) Squadron, transited north to Monte Real Air Base in Portugal – home to the 201 and 301 Fighter Squadrons who both operate F-16 Falcons, as they continued their air integration training. The training also demonstrates the UK’s commitment to the defence of NATO, and ability to project airpower over the Atlantic and Western Mediterranean.
“It is always a privilege to work alongside international colleagues. This deployment has provided an opportunity to develop training and tactics with our NATO partners and demonstrates the strong bond and operational understanding between the two Air Forces,” said Royal Air Force Lossiemouth Typhoon Pilot.
Operating away from the home base offers a range of training opportunities for the aircrew as flying alongside other nations provides invaluable insight to each other’s tactics and procedures. Each of the pilots got to fly alongside their Portuguese Air Force counterparts in a variety of fighter manoeuvres.
The Eurofighter Typhoons made the journey to and from Portugal with the support of a Royal Air Force Voyager ( Airbus A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport) aircraft from RAF Brize Norton, which provided air to air refuelling. This year the Portuguese Air Force celebrates its 70th anniversary, with a fitting motto: “70 Years – Defending the Future”. The F-16s are part of the fleet which achieved the 100,000 flying hours mark last week.
