The Ministry of National Defence (MApN) announced on Friday that the rotations of allied detachments carrying out NATO airspace defence missions in Romania and Lithuania are scheduled for the coming period.

According to a MApN release sent to AGERPRES, through its active participation in NATO missions, Romania contributes both to the security of the Black Sea region and to the protection of allied airspace from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.

'On Friday, a transfer of authority ceremony took place at the 86th 'Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociornita' Air Base, in Borcea, as part of the NATO Enhanced Air Policing South mission. The Italian Air Force and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Air Force detachments are ending their mission in our country, with responsibility being taken over by the Spanish Air and Space Force, which is participating in Romania for the fourth time, following missions carried out in 2021, 2024 and February 2026,' the release mentioned.

The Spanish Air and Space Force detachment is made up of seven F-18M Hornet aircraft, an A400M air-to-air refuelling aircraft, three NH-90 helicopters and approximately 180 servicemen (pilots and technical staff), who will carry out missions in Romania until the end of November, the MApN mentioned.

According to the quoted source, also on Friday, in Lithuania, the Romanian Air Force is concluding its fourth participation in the NATO Baltic Air Policing mission. The 'Carpathian Vipers' detachment, made up of around 100 servicemen and six F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, carried out the mission from April to July 2026, contributing to the protection of allied airspace and strengthening security on the Eastern Flank.

NATO Air Policing missions, as well as the adaptation of allied airspace defence measures to the current security context, are strictly defensive in nature and are conducted in peacetime, the Ministry underscored, adding that their role is to protect the integrity of allied airspace, to deter any violations and to ensure a rapid and coordinated response of the Alliance when required. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Mihai Stoica; EN - writing by: Rodica State)

Display count: 700