RAF flies first air defence mission over Poland after Russian drone incursion

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/ba90/live/433566b0-963d-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/ba90/live/433566b0-963d-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ba90/live/433566b0-963d-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/ba90/live/433566b0-963d-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/ba90/live/433566b0-963d-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/ba90/live/433566b0-963d-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/ba90/live/433566b0-963d-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ba90/live/433566b0-963d-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="PA Media An RAF Typhoon photographed during a deployment over Poland as part of Nato's Eastern Sentry mission" class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> PA Media An RAF Hurricane in the course of the first Nato deployment over Poland after 19 drones have been detected in Polish airspace final week

British fighter jets have carried out a Nato air defence mission over Poland as a part of an allied response to Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace, the Ministry of Defence mentioned.

The RAF Hurricane jets have been deployed over Poland on Friday night time as a part of the navy alliance's mission to bolster its japanese flank.

Tensions have escalated following repeated Russian violations of Nato members' airspace this month - with a drone detected over Romania after which warplanes in Estonia's airspace following the incursions into Poland. Russia has denied or downplayed the violations.

Defence Secretary John Healey mentioned the RAF flights despatched "a transparent sign: Nato airspace shall be defended".

He added: "I am pleased with the excellent British pilots and air crew who took half on this profitable operation to defend our allies from reckless Russian aggression."

Two fighter jets took off from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire on Friday night time to patrol Poland's skies, supported by an RAF Voyager air-to-air refuelling plane, earlier than returning to the UK early on Saturday, the MoD mentioned.

Nato had introduced the mission, dubbed the Jap Sentry, on 10 September following 19 drone incursions into Polish airspace.

Then Healey confirmed that the UK could be concerned when he visited RAF Brize Norton 5 days later.

Describing Russia's actions as "reckless, harmful and unprecedented," he mentioned: "Once we are threatened, we reply collectively."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/b5b1/live/abc29ed0-963f-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/b5b1/live/abc29ed0-963f-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/b5b1/live/abc29ed0-963f-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/b5b1/live/abc29ed0-963f-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/b5b1/live/abc29ed0-963f-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/b5b1/live/abc29ed0-963f-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/b5b1/live/abc29ed0-963f-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/b5b1/live/abc29ed0-963f-11f0-9ed9-693309fd1b9f.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="PA Media An RAF Mission System Operator observes and commands FGR4 Typhoons from the cockpit of an RAF Voyager air-refuelling tanker during the RAF "Eastern Sentry" deployment over Poland" class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> PA Media The RAF operation comes 85 years after the Battle of Britain, when Polish pilots fought alongside the RAF to thwart sustained German air assaults in Britain's skies throughout World Struggle Two.

"It's particularly poignant that RAF pilots and crew are as soon as once more standing shoulder to shoulder with Poland in defence of our shared safety," Healey mentioned.