“Our AWACS can detect aircraft from hundreds of kilometers away, a critical capability for NATO’s deterrence and defense,” Alliance spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said.
NATO announced today the deployment of surveillance aircraft AWACS in Romania from 17 January in order to support the increased presence of the Alliance in the region and to “monitors Russian military activity”.
“Our AWACS can detect aircraft from hundreds of kilometers away, a critical capability for NATO’s deterrence and defense,” Alliance spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said.
The aircraft, supported by resupply planes, will be based at Otopeni, near Bucharest, Romania, and will carry out air surveillance operations “exclusively over Alliance territory”, he insisted. The mission is expected to last “several weeks,” he said.
The first flight is expected to take place on January 17. The aircraft is part of NATO’s fleet of 14 AWACS aircraft based in Geilenkirchen, Germany, and 180 NATO military personnel will be sent to Otopeni to maintain and protect the plane.
NATO has bolstered the defense of its eastern flank with units equipped with heavy weapons supported by tanks, additional surveillance and resupply aircraft in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Since February 2022, NATO AWAKS have been conducting regular patrols over eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea region to track Russian fighter jets flying close to the borders of Alliance countries.
One of the eight tactical multinational formations that NATO has deployed on its eastern flank is stationed in Romania. Under French command, it numbers one thousand soldiers protected by the French “MAMBA” medium-range surface-to-air air defense system and supported by thirteen Leclerc tanks.
RES-EMP
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