of three Russian aircraft over the Baltic Sea

The Royal Air Force and German Air Force’s Typhoon fighter jets recently executed a joint mission intercepting three Russian aircraft soaring across the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Finland. The Royal Air Force’s IX(B) Squadron is a United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force squadron. It is one of the two operational Eurofighter Typhoon squadrons in the UK and is currently based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland.

One Russian aircraft was identified as a Russian Air Force IL-20 Coot-A intelligence aircraft transiting from mainland Russia to the Kaliningrad enclave. Two Russian SU-27 Flanker-B fighter jets escorted the Coot-A south.

The two forces, working together as part of Operation Azotize, are actively protecting the eastern flank of NATO’s border. This joint effort is aimed at helping to maintain the security and stability of the region and ensuring that NATO’s border remains secure from any potential threats.

This entails utilizing various strategies and tactics, such as air and ground surveillance, to monitor and deter potential threats. Additionally, both forces are actively training and equipping their personnel to prepare them to respond to potential threats.

The squadron is part of the RAF’s No. 1 Group and is currently assigned to the NATO Rapid Reaction Corps. It is also known for its role in the NATO air campaign in Libya during Operation Unified Protector.

Eurofighter Typhoons were recently used during the joint mission. These jets are highly agile aircraft designed to be effective dogfighters in combat. They are twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multi-role fighters with advanced avionics and sensors. [i]

Typhoons can conduct various missions, including air-to-air, air-to-ground, and reconnaissance operations. The aircraft is manufactured by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo and is considered by many to be the most advanced fighter jet in the world. [ii]

The jet also boasts advanced aerodynamic design, thrust vectoring, and avionics, providing superior maneuverability and agility. Additionally, the aircraft is equipped with a wide range of weapons, including air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles and laser-guided bombs. [iii]

The aircraft has a max speed of 2.0 Mach with a max altitude of 55,000 feet. Due to its ability to “simultaneously support missile in-flight updates and bomb in-flight targeting, it is a true swing-role combat aircraft.”

Furthermore, the aircraft’s airframe has advanced stealth features, with only 15% of the aircraft’s surface being metal. This provides extraordinary “stealth operation and protection from radar-based systems.” [iv]

References

[i] Eurofighter Typhoon The Aircraft (2023)

[ii] Id.

[iii] Royal Air Force Cadets Typhoon FGR4 | Royal Air Force (2023)

[iv] Eurofighter Typhoon Features | The World’s Most Advanced Swing-Role Combat Aircraft (2023)