460 hours in the air, over 20 interventions (alpha scramble) and alliance cooperation with 13 states' armed forces – this is the balance of Operation "Chessman" which the British Air Force has carried out for the last 4 months as part of the Nattian Air Police mission. During this time, RAF fighters were stationed at the 22nd Tactical Air Base in Malbork.
Enhanced Air Police (eAR – enhanced aerial surveillance) is simply a NATO mission carried out during peacetime, but requiring constant preparedness of fighter aircraft and crews capable of responding rapidly to possible breach of allies' airspace. Since April, the eAR mission has been implemented in Poland by the UK and Sweden. The RAF soldiers had already said goodbye to Malbork and thanked their allies for their joint actions.
– I would like to thank our hosts from the 22nd Tactical Aviation Base in Malbork for the unwavering commitment, support and assistance given to the British Air Surveillance Division in successfully fulfilling the mission of protecting the east flank of NATO," said Col. Christopher Jacob, commander of the 140th RAF Expeditional Aviation Wing. – I would besides like to express my heartfelt thanks to our Swedish partners from 17 and 21 Wings for participating in this mission to patrol airspace alongside the British branch from the very beginning. It was an absolute honor for me to be able to support and assist in the implementation of NATO's first abroad operational deployment," stressed the commander of the British contingent and recalled that Sweden is the youngest associate of the Alliance And that's it. In Poland, Swedish soldiers first operated for NATO outside their country.
– I address our Polish and Swedish allies in the air force: our bond is even stronger, together we defend and we will defend NATO's airspace – said Colonel Christopher Jacob.
The British contingent performing Operation "Chessman" as part of the eAR mission consisted of six Eurofighter Typhoon fighters and about 200 2 Squadron soldiers (No. 2 Army Co-operation Squadron) forming part of the 140 Expeditional Aviation Wing (140 EAW). The RAF pilots flew to Malbork from Lossiemouth base on the coast of northern Scotland. In the first period of service they had to 4 times pick up on-call pairs of fighters to intercept and identify unknown machineswhich turned out to be Russian fighters and reconnaissance aircraft. In addition to on-call and training flights with Swedish Gripens and Polish Migs 29 of 22 BLT, The British engaged in many another exercises, including the Estonian Hedgehog 25 or Atlantic Trident maneuvers in Finland.
The British have already said goodbye to Malbork, but for Swedes with fighters JAS 39C Gripen mission eAR is inactive ongoing. Operations Command of Types of Armed Forces confirms that the Swedish contingent will support the defence of NATO's east flank by the end of August.
