The Spanish air and space forces have deployed a long-range air surveillance radar in Romania to monitor airspace on NATO's eastern flank

Spain to send fighter jets to Bulgaria and Romania to contribute to allied response and deterrence capability

PHOTO/Eurofighter GmbH - A convoluted Council of Ministers agreement authorises the purchase of an unknown number of Hawk project fighters, which are none other than EF-2000 Eurofighter fighters, for an unknown amount of money

Atalayar

23 de octubre de 2022 (12:28 h.)

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Since February, NATO has reinforced the availability of air defence assets and air activity on the eastern flank to contribute to the allies' response and deterrence capabilities. The NATO Air Component (AIRCOM) has asked countries to increase their contributions in an effort that can be sustained over time, for the duration of this situation, to provide an Air Shield that is materialised through an increase in regular air policing and training missions.

In this context, at the request of NATO and the Allied countries on the eastern flank, the Air and Space Army (EA) has carried out, under the national authority of the JEMAD and transferred to NATO, three Air Tactical Detachments (DAT) between February and September, in Bulgaria (DAT Strela: 4 Eurofighter and 133 11th Wing personnel), Lithuania (DAT Vilkas: 8 F18M and 130 12th Wing personnel) Estonia (DAT Ambar: 4 x Eurofighter and 70 11th Wing personnel, joint detachment with the Luftwaffe) and is expected to contribute, in the short term, to the following detachments.

In Romania (Schitu Barracks), from 17 October to 31 March 2023 (extendable until 30 June 2023), the DAT TIGRU, consisting of a long-range air surveillance radar, is deployed to monitor the airspace on NATO's eastern flank.

The radar with the technical equipment left the port of Cartagena on 10 October for the Romanian city of Constanza, where 38 military personnel have been deployed to keep the radar active 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. A new deployment is also planned in Bulgaria (Bezmer Air Base), from 14 November to 2 December 2022, where a DAT of 6 Eurofighters and 130 soldiers from the 11th Wing will be stationed. They are expected to perform training and air policing missions, if required by NATO.

In addition, a deployment is also planned from 1 December 2022 to 31 March 2023 in Romania (Fetesi Air Base). A DAT of 8 F18M and 130 military personnel from the 15th Wing will be stationed there to carry out air police and training missions.