Royal Air Force hands over the NATO enhanced Air Policing mission in Romania to the Royal Canadian Air Force.

The RAF detachment that has been conducting the NATO enhanced Air Policing Mission in Romania has handed over the mission to the Royal Canadian Air Force.

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During the RAF deployment, the Typhoons of RAF Lossiemouth based IX (Bomber) Squadron launched nine times against suspect aircraft (Picture source: RAF)

The RAF’s, 121 Expeditionary Air Wing has been based at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, near the Black Sea Coast in Romania to support the Romanian Air Force’s own Quick Reaction Alert to conduct the mission. During the RAF deployment, the Typhoons of RAF Lossiemouth based IX (Bomber) Squadron launched nine times against suspect aircraft.

The incoming Canadian detachment, of approximately 150 personnel and known as the Royal Canadian Air Force-Air Task Force Romania, will be operating six CF-188 Hornet. The Hornets come from 409 (Tactical) Fighter Squadron and are usually based at Cold Lake Air Base in Canada.

This is the sixth time the Canadian Armed Forces have deployed an Air Task Force to Romania as part of Operation Reassurance, the Canadian operation name for their participation in NATO Air Policing missions. 409 Squadron last deployed to Romania in 2017.

During the RAF deployment to Romania in addition to the Quick Reaction Alert scramble 121 Expeditionary Air Wing has also trained with various other Allied and Partner forces. This included Air Defence Exercise with NATO warships, Close Air Support with land forces and Air Combat Training with other NATO air forces.

121 Expeditionary Air Wing was also joined by the German Air Force’s 71st (Richthofen) Wing in June, to further the interoperability of the two nations’ Typhoon fleets. This period saw the German Eurofighters join the RAF Typhoons and Romanian MiG-21 LanceRs conduct a joint training scramble, which was the first of its kind (Picture source: RAF)

A ceremony took place on September 8 at the Romanian Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near Consṭanṭa on the Black Sea Coast and was attended by military and civilian representatives from Romania, Canada and NATO. During the ceremony, the Commander of NATO's Combined Air Operations Centre (CAOC) at Torrejón, Spain, Lieutenant General Fernando de la Cruz declared full operational capability of the Canadian fighter detachment.

"This ceremony marks an important moment for our Alliance, as the Royal Canadian Air Force commits to delivering the enhanced Air Policing mission at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base for the sixth time since 2014," said General de la Cruz. "By deploying their CF-188 Hornet fighter jets and 170 personnel to NATO's enhanced Air Policing mission in Romania, Canada are once again underlining the enduring strength of our transatlantic Alliance," he added.

The Royal Canadian Air Force will be flying and operating alongside the Romanian Air Force. Until the end of November, they will be available to launch for quick reaction alert and training missions with Romanian jet on the shores of the Black Sea. The entire mission will be fully integrated into the Romanian and NATO's defence system. Control of the operations rests with the Control and Reporting Centre Crystal in Bucharest, while CAOC Torrejón will have tactical command and NATO's Allied Air Command in Germany will oversee the mission – embedded within NATO Air Policing across all of Europe.

The Commander of Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejón, Spain, LtGen Fernandes de la Cruz, presented the certificate of Full Operational Readiness for NATO Air Policing in Romania to the Commander of the Canadian detachment, LtCol Corey Mask  (Picture source: Bogdan Pantilimon)

"Canada is a strong supporter of NATO and is proud to execute NATO Enhanced Air Policing for the sixth time. Starting in 2014, Canada's Air Task Force deployment as part of Operation Reassurance is proud to project the best of what Canada has to offer," said Lieutenant-Colonel Corey Mask, Commander of the Canadian Air Task Force Romania. "Working closely with our Romanian Allies for the collaborative protection of NATO airspace on the eastern flank, our highly trained Air Task Force team not only contributes, but excels in the delivery of NATO assurance and deterrence measures in the region," he added.

Since 2014, the NATO Alliance has Assurance Measures in place with the goal to assure the Allies along the eastern flank. One tool in this set of measures is the concept of enhanced Air Policing, which demonstrates NATO's solidarity, collective resolve, and its ability to adapt and scale its defensive missions and deterrence posture in response to the evolving security situation in the East. Canada has been a strong supporter of the enhanced Air Policing mission showcasing NATO cohesion and capability. Their Air Force's sixth deployment to Romania epitomises the strong transatlantic link of the Alliance.

Royal Canadian Air Force CF-188 aircraft are now fully operationally ready to fly NATO enhanced Air Policing mission in the skies above Romania alongside the Romanian Air Force fighter aircraft until the end of November (Picture source: Bogdan Pantilimon)