RAMSTEIN, Germany – Italian Eurofighter Typhoons and Romanian F-16s successfully concluded their participation in Exercise Dacian Spring 2025, a NATO-led training exercise coordinated by Multinational Division Southeast. The exercise brought together over 4,000 troops from ten NATO Allies in a high-intensity scenario simulating the defence of NATO’s south-eastern flank.
Operating out of Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, Romania, the Italian and Romanian aircraft delivered Close Air Support using live munitions in coordination with ground forces engaged in dynamic manoeuvre warfare. Additionally, Italian Joint Terminal Attack Controllers, integrated with the Multinational Battle Group Bulgaria, ensured effective air-to-ground operations within the Smârdan training area.
Dacian Spring provided a realistic and challenging scenario to validate our swing-role capabilities and enhance joint interoperability with NATO ground forces
A key element of the deployment was the swing-role capability of the Eurofighter, allowing seamless shifts between air-to-air and air-to-ground missions within a single sortie. This flexibility underscored both the aircraft’s versatility and the high proficiency of Italian aircrews, who executed precision strikes in a contested environment using onboard cannons.
Exercise Dacian Spring is a NATO-led training exercise coordinated by Multinational Division Southeast, involving over 4,000 personnel delivering effective air-to-ground operations. Photo courtesy of the Italian Air Force.
The Italian and Romanian fighters delivered Close Air Support using live munitions in coordination with ground forces, demonstrated enhanced integration. Photo courtesy of the Italian Air Force.
The exercise exemplified NATO’s focus on joint fires and interoperability. “Dacian Spring provided a realistic and challenging scenario to validate our swing-role capabilities and enhance joint interoperability with NATO ground forces,” said Colonel Marcello Vitucci, Commander of the Italian Task Force in Romania. “This training supports the strategic objectives of the Alliance by improving our tactical effectiveness.”
The Italian Task Force, comprising four Eurofighter Typhoons and approximately 150 personnel, has been stationed in Romania since March 2025 under NATO’s enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission. Operating under the tactical control of CAOC Torrejon and national command from Italy’s Joint Operations Headquarters, the deployment reinforces NATO’s collective defence posture on its eastern flank.
Participation in Dacian Spring 2025 has further strengthened Allied multirole capabilities, while showcasing NATO’s unity and commitment to deterrence through realistic, complex scenarios that ensure readiness and regional stability.