UK plans typhoon jets in Ukrainian skies from Polish bases
As reported by "The Times," citing government sources, the United Kingdom is considering sending Typhoon fighter jets to patrol Ukrainian airspace. This confidential plan would be part of efforts to enforce a future peace agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.
British ministers have already discussed methods to provide Ukraine with security guarantees without deploying large numbers of ground troops. A high-ranking government source told "The Times" that an "aerial patrol mission" using Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters is a feasible option.
British fighter jets over Ukraine?
This approach could be similar to Baltic Air Policing missions flown by British fighters in the Baltic states. Considering the situation in Ukraine, even with unresolved ceasefire conditions, the entire endeavour would nevertheless be more challenging to implement.
"The Times" suggests that the Typhoon fighters would be placed on high alert and prepared to respond to potential Russian attacks. These aircraft would complement peacekeeping forces consisting of soldiers from the United Kingdom and other European countries. However, they would require ground support from advanced air defence systems.
The important role of Poland in the British plan
The plan mentioned by "The Times" also considers the involvement of Britain's allies. Although British fighters would patrol Ukrainian airspace, they would be stationed and take off from bases located in Poland.
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine (equipped with Eurojet EJ200 engines with 9,160 kgf thrust each) multirole fighter jet created through an international consortium. They can reach a maximum speed of up to Mach 2 (around 2,450 km/h) and are renowned for their exceptional manoeuvrability.
The jets also feature supercruise capability, allowing them to achieve supersonic speeds without using afterburners. An important feature of these jets is their ability to carry various types of armaments, including anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles, as well as long-range cruise missiles (Storm Shadow and Taurus) and bombs.
