Home  /  Newsroom  /  2023  /  Türkiye deploys fighter jets to Romania for NATO air policing mission

FETESTI, Romania - On November 30, four Turkish F-16 fighter jets arrived in 86th Borcea Air Base, in Romania to participate in NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission in the south for the first time. They will fly alongside Romanian and German jets to safeguard NATO airspace on the Black Sea shores and deter potential threats from the air.

These deployments are demonstration of capability and resolve to protect our people and territories. NATO air forces remain ready to respond to any threat from any direction

The long-scheduled deployment demonstrates NATO Allies’ commitment to support each other and strengthen the Alliance’s collective defence.

The Turkish F-16s were refueled in flight by  Turkish Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft. Photo courtesy Turkish Air Force. 

For the first time, Turkish F-16s support NATO's enhanced Air Policing in the south; in 2021, they deployed to Poland for enhanced Air Policing north. Photo courtesy Turkish Air Force. 

Four Turkish F-16s will be assigned to NATO to safeguard skies out of Borcea Air Base, Romania, for the coming four months. Photo courtesy Turkish Air Force. 

“I welcome Germany and Türkiye’s deployment of additional fighter jets to NATO’s air policing mission in Romania,” said acting NATO Spokesperson Dylan White. “These deployments are demonstration of capability and resolve to protect our people and territories. NATO air forces remain ready to respond to any threat from any direction,” he added. 

The Turkish detachment augments Romanian air force jets and surface-based air defences. They will operate alongside German Eurofighters which arrived at Mihail Kogalniceanu near Constanța on Friday (24 November 2023) and with a French MAMBA surface-based air defence system deployed at Capu Midia. Following Russia’s full-fledged invasion of Ukraine, NATO has reinforced its presence in the eastern part of the Alliance, including with more fighter jets and surveillance flights.