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UK jets deployed to Poland for joint exercises

02.10.2023 09:00
Four British Royal Air Force Typhoon fighter jets have deployed to Poland to conduct joint training exercises alongside allied aircraft from Poland, Spain and Italy, according to an announcement. 
A RAF Typhoon fighter jet.
A RAF Typhoon fighter jet.Photo: Mark Harkin, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

The deployment is expected to provide an opportunity for RAF pilots to practice dogfighting against different types of aircraft, and develop tactics to exploit their weaknesses, the British government has said in a statement.

The Typhoons, which deployed to Poland on Sunday, will remain in the country for two weeks and practice engaging targets beyond visual range, simulating various possible combat scenarios, according to the gov.uk website.

They will be supported by a team of more than 50 RAF personnel during the deployment, the statement said.

The deployment comes ahead of the Warsaw Security Forum conference this week.

British Defence Minister James Heappey will attend the conference "to stress the need to maintain support for Ukraine and keep up the pressure on Russia," according to the statement.

On Wednesday, Heappey is expected to visit troops deployed in eastern Poland who operate the Sky Sabre surface-to-air missile system, bolstering Poland’s air defences close to the border with Ukraine.

The Warsaw Security Forum, first held in 2014, is focused on transatlantic cooperation in response to common challenges, bringing together senior defence officials to provide a forum to discuss challenges facing Central and Eastern Europe, and the wider international community.  

Britain is the partner nation of this year’s Warsaw Security Forum.

(gs)

Source: gov.ukPAPwarsawsecurityforum.org