A multinational NATO evaluation team conducted a Capability Evaluation (CAPEVAL) at RAF Leeming, where a force of over 600 RAF personnel have successfully proven their ability to conduct operations in challenging conditions.

According to NATO here, in March evaluators from Allied Air Command and across NATO put the men and women of the RAF’s 135 Expeditionary Air Wing (EAW) through multiple challenges aimed at assessing the unit’s ability to support the Alliance during operational deployments.

The Royal Air Force say that 135 EAW’s combat air power was provided by eight Typhoon FGR4 fighter aircraft, and that the evaluation tested the RAF’s ability to cope with a range of missions from air policing to full-scale combat.

“After a decade away from NATO’s CAPEVAL assessment programme, the RAF’s Typhoon Force has provided NATO with clear evidence of its ability to operate to the highest operational standards, under highly testing conditions,” said the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston.

“The successful CAPEVAL outcome proves the RAF’s ability to deploy a potent fighting force and reinforces the RAF’s and the UK’s commitment to NATO, and confirming our ability to work effectively alongside our NATO allies.”