(C) NATO This story was originally published by NATO and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Spain deploys fighters to NATO Air Shielding in Romania [1] [] Date: 2024-04 RAMSTEIN, Germany – Five Spanish Eurofighters and a roughly 60–strong support detachment joined NATO’s Air Shielding mission performing training and deterrence flights from Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base on Romania’s Black Sea coast. We augment NATO’s defensive posture along the eastern flank firmly embedded in the air and missile defence arrangements “Our detachment dubbed PAZNIC arrived here on April 8, and for two weeks we are integrating with our Allies to fly alongside them in the coming two weeks,” said the Spanish Detachment Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Victor Garrido. “During this time we augment NATO’s defensive posture along the eastern flank firmly embedded in the air and missile defence arrangements,” he added. On the 2,500 km deployment flight from Spain to Romania's Black Sea coast, a Spanish A400M refuelling aircraft supported the Spanish Eurofighters. Photo courtesy Spanish Air Force. Five Spanish Eurofighter will participate in NATO's Air Shielding missions along the eastern flank out of Mihaill Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania. Photo courtesy Spanish Air Force. The Spanish Eurofighter detachment in Romania uses Agile Combat Employment procedures improving resilience and generating combat power for the Alliance. Photo courtesy Spanish Air Force. The expeditionary organisation of the Spanish Eurofighter deployment draws on support from the Romanian host base near Constanța. Photo courtesy Spanish Air Force. NATO’s Air Shielding mission provides for an increase in the air and missile defence posture along the eastern flank. This mission includes additional national force contributions including Allied fighter squadrons – like the Spanish Eurofighters – and Surface-Based Air and Missile Defence units – like the French MAMBA system in Romania. ”We conduct this deployment by Agile Combat Employment (ACE) procedures. This expeditionary organization with limited support staff is leaning heavily on the Host Base support and cooperation with the RAF Typhoon team deployed here. It provides valuable experience to the Spanish Air Force in the field of the Agile Combat Employment concept,” he added. The Air Shielding mission enhances the shielding of NATO territory against air and missile threats, assures Allied population, improves readiness of NATO units and ensures they are ready to defence NATO territory if needed. ACE is an operational scheme of manoeuvre designed to improve resilience and survivability while generating air combat power from both home bases and geographically dispersed locations. Conducting an ACE requires a flexible, well prepared and coordinated approach by the deploying force and the receiving base. [END] --- [1] Url: https://shape.nato.int/news-archive/2024/spain-deploys-fighters-to-nato-air-shielding-in-romania.aspx Published and (C) by NATO Content appears here under this condition or license: in acordance with "Requirements for the external use of NATO content.". via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/nato/