12 hours Ago By Farah Mokrani
British fighter jets have touched down in eastern Poland this week, as the RAF kicks off its latest NATO air policing mission — and this time, they’re joined by Sweden. For the first time since joining NATO last year, Sweden is deploying its Gripen jets to protect another member state, working alongside British Typhoons to keep a watchful eye on NATO’s eastern skies. The joint operation, launched on Tuesday 1 April, comes amid growing concerns over Russian aggression and aims to boost air security across the region.
Most Read on Euro Weekly News How to move to Spain in 2025 without a Golden Visa Gatwick introduces new security scanners for faster travel Brit tourist found safe after mysterious disappearance from Alicante Airport Sweden joins NATO air patrols in first joint mission with UK This marks a major first for Swedish defence forces, who are now fully integrated into NATO’s command structure. Teaming up with RAF pilots, they’ll be patrolling Polish airspace as part of an ongoing mission to deter threats near the alliance’s eastern border. UK Defence Minister Lord Coaker, who travelled to Poland for the launch, met with his Swedish and Polish counterparts to reaffirm Britain’s commitment to the alliance.
“The UK is fully committed to NATO — and standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies has never been more important,” said Coaker. “This is about keeping Europe secure, not just at home, but across the whole alliance.” The RAF deployment includes six Typhoon fighter jets from II (AC) Squadron, based at RAF Lossiemouth.
They’ll operate from a Polish base during the mission. UK boosts defence spending and expands NATO missions The joint air patrol is just the latest in a string of high-profile NATO operations involving the RAF. Last year saw deployments to Romania and Iceland, with British jets helping defend both NATO’s southern and northern airspace.
Back in the UK, RAF Typhoons continue to carry out 24/7 airspace protection as part of the Quick Reaction Alert Force, based at Coningsby, Lossiemouth, and Brize Norton. The timing also reflects the government’s push on defence investment. In the recent Spring Statement, the Chancellor pledged an extra £2.
2 billion for defence in 2025/26, with plans to increase spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2027 — and even further in the next Parliament. Poland remains a key ally for the UK, not just in NATO but also in broader European security matters.
Both countries have been vocal supporters of Ukraine and are among the biggest defence spenders on the continent. Stay tuned with Euro weekly news for more news from Sweden Find more UK News.
