MIHAIL KOGALNICEANU, Romania – A Royal Canadian Air Force CF-188 fighter detachment has been certified and is now fully ready to patrol the skies above Romania flying alongside the Romanian Air Force.
By deploying their fighter jets and 170 personnel to NATO's enhanced Air Policing mission here, Canada are once again underlining the enduring strength of our transatlantic Alliance
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.
A ceremony took place at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base near Consṭanṭa on the Black Sea Coast with senior military and civilian representatives from Romania, Canada and NATO marking the Royal Canadian Air Force's full operational readiness. Photo by Bogdan Pantilimon.
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. Photo by Bogdan Pantilimon.
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. Photo by Bogdan Pantilimon.
"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.
Canada is a strong supporter of NATO and is proud to execute NATO Enhanced Air Policing for the sixth time
"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.