RAF Typhoon fighter teams are being sent to cover NATO’s flank near Poland to counter increasing Russian aggression in major UK move to help protect Europe from Kremlin threat of attack
RAF fighter jets have urgently been being deployed to help patrol Polish airspace on Nato’s eastern flank amid growing tensions with Russia over its war in Ukraine and in a bid to counter increasing Kremlin air patrols towards Europe. It comes as Ukraine war threatens to spread further into neighbouring countries.
The six UK-built Typhoons are already in Poland having flown from RAF Lossiemouth and will be deployed alongside Sweden’s Gripen fighters, on standby duty to scramble against Russia’s warplanes if they come to close. It comes as President Vladimir Putin tries to slow down the ceasefire negotiations process and play for time.
Ministry of Defence officials confirmed they will take part in a “NATO enhanced air policing mission.” It comes as the Kremlin is frequently deploying warplanes towards European countries such as the UK to test NATO response times. The MoD said defence minister Lord Coaker met with Polish defence minister Wladyslaw Marcin Kosiniak-Kamysz and Swedish defence minister Pal Jonson on Tuesday to “outline the UK’s commitment to European security and to mark the start of the operation.”
Lord Coaker said: “The UK is unshakeable in its commitment to Nato. With threats increasing and growing Russian aggression, it is vital that we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our allies. “This latest air policing mission in Poland displays the UK’s ability to operate effectively with Nato’s newest member in Sweden and deter our common adversaries across the alliance’s airspace, keeping us secure at home and strong abroad.”
The deployment is the first time that Swedish fighter jets will take part in air policing on the territory of another Nato ally since Stockholm joined the alliance in 2024. In April 2024, six Typhoon fighter jets with more than 200 personnel were stationed in Romania to defend Nato’s eastern border.
This was followed in August 2024 with the deployment of four F-35B jets to Iceland, defending Nato airspace in the north. RAF Typhoons and Voyagers also conduct Nato air policing in the UK through the Quick Reaction Alert Force, based at RAF Coningsby, Lossiemouth and Brize Norton.
RAF Typhoons frequently intercept incoming Russian bombers which act as spy planes to monitor how quickly they can scramble to force them to retreat. It is believed Russian submarines have made frequent incursions into British waters to map out underwater communications cables linking Europe to the US.
And Vladimir Putin ’s shadow fleet of spy ships is also active in trying to map out the cables – possibly for a future sabotage mission. The Royal Navy recently has been forced to monitor and shadow Russian warships as they pass through the English Channel and the North Sea.
Many of them have been deploying to the Mediterranean to help and resupply Russian troops who were based in Syria or in North Africa. A security source said: “This is all part of trying to show the Kremlin we take the threat very seriously and the UK is a major target for clandestine operations by Russia.
“The Kremlin is actively trying to undermine our security through cyber operations and other sabotage missions which are becoming increasingly overt.
“A lot of these operations by the Kremlin are to cause tension and unease among the NATO partners but they also have a practical use which is to test UK reaction times and communication efficiency between European air forces.