Home  /  Newsroom  /  2022  /  German fighter jets to join Italian Enhanced Air Policing in Romania

RAMSTEIN, Germany – German Air Force Eurofighters will deploy to Romania under NATO's enhanced Air Policing to conduct an interoperability mission with the Italian Air Force under the existing 'Plug & Fight' series during February and March.

Within the concept of 'Plug & Fight' a small contingent of personnel and aircraft from one Ally conducts operations with another Ally by docking on existing structures, thereby further developing interoperability during a live deployment. A highly innovative concept, 'Plug & Fight' operations have been executed between the German and British Air Forces before in Romania as well as during Baltic Air Policing in Lithuania and Estonia.

German Eurofighter archive picture by: Maciej Szamałek

The planned cooperation between the Italian and German Air Forces will enable Eurofighter aircrew and support staffs from the two nations to work closely together to launch enhanced Air Policing missions. This kind of event offers real benefit to all NATO personnel, as well as enhancing Allied interoperability, building trust and practising essential communication procedures. The Italian and German QRA fighters will maintain the same reaction times and ensure 24/7 readiness for NATO, but the additional aircraft and personnel will offer extra resilience to the Alliance.