Spanish jets conduct NATO mission over Romania

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.