Four RAF Typhoons are being sent to Romania to help police the Black Sea and provide reassurance to countries worried about Russia's military ambitions.

Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon confirmed jets from 3 (Fighter) Squadron at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire would spend up to four months in the country from May.

They will be based at Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase in southeastern Romania and patrol the Black Sea alongside local jets.

The 1,370mph aircraft will help detect, track and identify objects approaching or operating within NATO airspace.

Image: Defence Secretary Michael Fallon says the aircraft are 'ready to secure NATO airspace'

The deployment is part of the alliance's southern air policing mission and was first announced last year - but details of the date and squadron have only just been revealed.


Speaking in London, Sir Michael said: "The UK is stepping up its support for NATO's collective defence from the north to the south of the alliance.

"With this deployment, RAF planes will be ready to secure NATO airspace and provide reassurance to our allies in the Black Sea region."

Image: British soldiers were also recently sent to Estonia in another NATO mission

Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey - all members of the alliance - border the Black Sea, along with Russia and Russian-annexed Crimea.

Sir Michael told the Commons defence committee last year that the deployment was motivated by factors including the increasing militarisation of Crimea and insurgency activity.

RAF Typhoons have also contributed to NATO's mission over Baltic countries since the start of the Crimea crisis in 2014, flying missions out of Estonia and Lithuania.

UK and NATO aircraft intercepted unidentified Russian planes more than 400 times in 2014 alone.

British troops were also recently sent to Estonia as part of a NATO operation, with the defence secretary saying it was another measure to counter an "increasingly assertive Russia".