On April 16, 2024, Spanish fighter jets demonstrated their extended reach and sophisticated capabilities in a NATO mission over Romania.
Spanish forces, including detachments from Lithuania and Romania, collaborated in a complex aerial training exercise that spanned from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
The mission involved Spanish F/A-18 jets from the Baltic Air Policing mission in Siauliai, Lithuania, and Eurofighters from an Agile Combat Employment in Mihail Kogalniceanu, Romania.
The Alliance say that the exercise featured intensive aerial combat drills across NATO’s northern and southern Air Policing Areas. A critical element of the mission was the support provided by a Spanish A400M air-to-air refuelling aircraft, also based in Siauliai, which enabled the extended range and duration of the five-hour flight.
Lieutenant General Juan Pablo Sanchez de Lara, commander of NATO’s southern Combined Air Operations Centre in Torrejon, Spain, highlighted the importance of such training.
“This kind of training is extremely important for our aircrew and ground crews alike,” he stated. “While both Spanish detachments are assigned for NATO missions, we use every opportunity to enhance our pilots’ skills and demonstrate Alliance capabilities and readiness. Adding an air-to-air refuelling capability provides even more training benefit and adds complexity to our planners’ tasks.”
The execution of these drills not only demonstrates the high level of interoperability and cooperation among NATO members but also reaffirms the Alliance’s capability to deploy and manage complex, multi-national defence operations effectively.
Good to see an article about Spain that doesn’t involve a pathetic spat over Gibraltar. Spain should be demonstrating their determination to support NATO.
It’s probably the worst part of the AirTanker PFI that we can’t use A400M as a secondary tanker. The ability to refuel helicopters would be invaluable and the ability to add a few dozen extra tankers in an emergency would give us the best AAR fleet outside of the USAF.
Air tanker doesn’t stop helicopter refueling as it only covers fixed wing. Lack of funds is responsible for that.
I would imagine in an actual emergency all bets are off and if it’s needed it will be used. Actual combat aircraft may be a bigger issue.
The south western flank of nato. Nice to see F18s still flying around.
There is a need for a cheaper fighter for a lot of countries. Cheap to operate and able to datalink with other assets.
Using as many parts from existing in service aircraft so it’s not a full logistic line.
It can undertake home air policing, strike, display team etc.
if it could come in at a few thousand dollars per flight hour.
I wonder if there’s scope for a nato pool of a fighters that can do air policing being available to any nato ally.
Gripen comes close – cheap to operate but not exactly cheap to buy.
Gripen E would make an great fighter for just about anyone.
It’s an excellent machine, fully multi role and and overmatch for anything the Russians can put up against it.
There’s an old saying regarding aircraft projects that I believe was penned by the legendary Roland Beaumont…..
‘ A fighter has four forces acting against it, Lift, Drag, thrust and politics!
On paper, Gripen is an absolute no brainer, but political manoeuvring means it keeps being passed over for more expensive fighters that are in effect overkill.
Roland Beaumont, now there was a man that knew his onions. What a true legend
Absolutely, a childhood hero of mine, I’ve got just about everything he wrote, a truly great Briton….