F-18 fighter jets Air Force and from Spanish Space have taken off in an emergency from Romania to intercept a Russian drone that was presumably used as an intelligence element over the region.
During the afternoon of Thursday, October 17, Romania’s early warning radars detected and identified a possible unmanned aircraft Russian flying over the Black Sea heading to Romanian territory. The possibility was considered that it was a drone used as an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform, according to the Defense Staff (EMAD).
Given the drone’s approach towards NATO airspace, the Torrejón Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC-TJ) gave the order to exit in scramble –on rapid reaction alert – to the Spanish F-18s of the Paznic Detachment, in Romania, to establish a patrol on the shores of the Black Sea.
Subsequently, with the possible entry of the drone into Romanian airspace, the planes were directed to the area where the drone was located for its search and tracking. After finishing their mission, the F-18s landed at the Mikhail Kogalniceanu Air Base after being relieved by the F-16s of the Romanian Air Force.
Other participants
In addition to the fighter planes, the MAMBA anti-aircraft artillery battery, from the French Army and American maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), as well as helicopters based at Mikhail Kogalniceanu.
“This mission is a clear example of Spain’s unequivocal commitment to the allied countriesas well as the excellent integration of the respective air assets in order to exercise joint protection of the airspace of NATO’s eastern flank,” concludes EMAD.
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