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RAMSTEIN, Germany – Spanish fighter jets landed at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria on February 11, to support the NATO Air Policing mission and work out air-to-air manoeuvres with their Bulgarian Allies.

Spain will deploy up to 130 service members and four Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoon aircraft. The Spanish Air Policing tasks will be performed until the end of March 2022.

Spain has the firm commitment and a determined contribution to the Alliance by participating in the Air Policing mission to protect and safeguard NATO member countries airspace

"Spain has the firm commitment and a determined contribution to the Alliance by participating in the Air Policing mission to protect and safeguard NATO member countries airspace" said Lieutenant Colonel Salazar, Chief of the Spanish Deployment. "Our personnel is deployed here to work shoulder to shoulder with the Bulgarian Air Force and supplement their efforts in Air Policing," he added.

Spanish fighter jets landed at Graf Ignatievo Air Base, Bulgaria on 11 February 2022 to support the NATO Air Policing mission and work out air-to-air manoeuvres with their Bulgarian Allies. Photo courtesy of Graf Ignatievo Air Base. 

The mission will be carried out in compliance with the plans and procedures of the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NIAMDS).

The Bulgarian Air Force will continue their national commitments regarding Quick Reaction Alert duty under the NIAMDS. The Spanish aircraft will be assigned tasks under NATO enhanced Air Policing mission.

Air Policing of the NATO airspace is a peacetime collective defence mission. Its purpose is to ensure preserving the integrity, safety and security of the airspace of the Allies. Participation in such joint missions enhances the Air Force capabilities to safeguard the integrity of Allied airspace.