T H E 2 2 N D TA C T I C A L A I R B A S E
Sweden redeployed six JAS‑39C Gripen to Królewo Malborskie; some are equipped
with Litening electro‑optical pods. (Photo: NATO Air Command)
fuel tanks, while the rest carried two underwing tanks. Additionally, those
with fewer tanks were fitted with Rafael Litening electro‑optical pods, which
on Air Policing missions are used to monitor airspace and record suspicious
aircraft movements. Each British jet also carried two MBDA AIM‑132 ASRAAM
short‑range air‑to‑air missiles, the RAF's standard close‑range armament.
Before the Typhoons arrived, at least two Airbus A400M Atlas medium transport
aircraft made flights to Królewo Malborskie, delivering essential ground‑support
equipment. On 25 March the British also sent a heavy Boeing C‑17 Globemaster
III, which brought another batch of servicing gear.
AVIATION
