Foreign Secretary meets the RAF fighter pilots policing Nato's airspace

The UK's Foreign Secretary has visited the Royal Air Force detachment currently serving in Estonia on Operation Azotize as part of Nato's Baltic Air Policing mission.

James Cleverly arrived at Amari Airbase, where he met with senior RAF personnel responsible for leading the crews who have been responsible for intercepting Russian aircraft.

After meeting aviators, Mr Cleverly, a reserve Army officer, was escorted to the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) hangars where he was shown a training scramble.

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The training sortie showcased the speed which the RAF is required to work at to respond to any potential threat and demonstrated how the Nato mission in Estonia is conducted.

Commanding Officer of 140 Expeditionary Air Wing, Wing Commander MacColl, said: "The Foreign Secretary's visit to Amari highlights the importance of the RAF's role in Estonia.

"It was a fantastic opportunity to discuss the operations we have already delivered, to witness the responsiveness we provide and to gain a broader understanding of the Typhoon's capabilities."

The Foreign Secretary was given the opportunity to sit in the cockpit of a Typhoon and discussed the various air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities of the jet.

He was also briefed on recent Typhoon integration activities involving HMS Albion and UK land forces based in Estonia.

He then met with Commanding Officer of the Army Aviation Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Rivett, who explained the British military helicopter capabilities currently in Estonia, such as the Apache and Wildcat helicopters.

The RAF will fulfil Nato's Air Policing Mission in Estonia until August, when the task is to be handed over to the Spanish Air Force.

Quick Reaction Alert, known as QRA, is a state of readiness and modus operandi of air defence always maintained by Nato allies.

This means crews are on standby 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and ready to react at a moment's notice to reach a threat within minutes, no matter the location, defending Nato skies seamlessly, day and night.