Eight Spanish Air Force F-18 Hornets have arrived at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania to begin a four-month deployment as part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission, according to a NATO announcement.
The Spanish detachment, consisting of 150 military personnel, will support NATO’s efforts by patrolling and training alongside the Romanian Air Force, replacing the Royal Air Force’s Typhoons, which have returned to the United Kingdom following their own four-month rotation.
A certification ceremony held on August 6 marked the commencement of the Spanish mission. The event was attended by several high-ranking officials, including Romania’s Minister of National Defence, Angel Tîlvăr, who stressed the importance of adapting to the evolving security landscape in the region.
Tîlvăr noted, “We must remain agile in the face of changes in the security landscape confronting the Alliance, and we must send a strong, unequivocal message to the public; we are united under the umbrella of the largest defence alliance, working together to protect the airspace of NATO’s southeastern flank – a region with a complex security architecture, particularly following the outbreak of war in Ukraine in February 2022.”
The ceremony also featured the participation of the Chief of the Defence Staff, General Gheorghiță Vlad, Spain’s Ambassador to Romania, José Antonio Pérez-Solórzano, and other military leaders from both Spain and Romania.
The deployment of Spanish F-18s is part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing, a mission introduced in 2014 following Russia’s annexation of Crimea.
This mission, say the Alliance, serves as a key component of NATO’s assurance measures, aimed at demonstrating the Alliance’s collective resolve and its defensive nature, as well as deterring any potential aggression from Russia.
NATO adds that these Air Policing deployments are planned in advance and rotate among NATO Allies, ensuring the collective defence and protection of NATO’s airspace, particularly in regions with heightened security concerns.
