Page 68 - North Atlantic and Nordic Defense

North European and North Atlantic Defense: The Challenges Return

Put in clear terms, although the UK carriers can be used for expeditionary purposes, they will provide key
centerpieces for any extended defense of the homeland via modular integration with other allied forces.

These forces would be deployed as a a scalable kill web, where the sensor-shooter relationship among missile
defense, and strike assets can operate in a distributed defense structure.

For the UK MoD announcement about Baltic operations, see the following:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-jets-and-warship-to-bolster-baltic-security

Royal Air Force Typhoon jets and the Royal Navy warship HMS Iron Duke will deploy to the Baltic this
month as part of the UK’s commitment to eastern European allies.

Four Typhoons will take a leading role in the Baltic Air Policing mission which aims to safeguard the
safety of NATO partners and wider Europe.

Based at Amari air base in Estonia, the crews will operate in a Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) role.

As part of standing arrangements within NATO, members of the alliance without their own air policing
assets are assisted by others which contribute on a four-month cycle.

The UK deployed Typhoon aircraft to Lithuania in spring 2014 and to Estonia between May and August
2015. They will operate alongside the Portuguese air force around the airspace of Lithuania, Latvia
and Estonia.

FIGURE 21 HMS IRON DUKE. CREDIT: UK MOD[/CAPTION]
At sea, HMS Iron Duke is due to return to the Baltic region after participating in the bi-annual,
multinational Exercise Joint Warrior off the coast of Scotland. The Type 23 frigate is half way through a
six-month deployment to northern Europe as part of a multinational NATO task group where she has
taken part in exercises and operations. She is available to NATO for a range of tasks including
diplomatic visits to countries in the region.

Later this year Iron Duke is due to operate in the Baltic region with up to four other Royal Navy ships,
including HMS Ocean and HMS Pembroke, in the maritime exercise Baltops 16.

Second Line of Defense

Page 67