During the afternoon of Thursday, October 17, Romania’s early warning radars detected and identified a possible Russian unmanned aircraft flying over the Black Sea bound for Romanian territory. The possibility was considered that it was a drone used as an intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) platform.
Given the approach direction of the drone towards NATO airspace, the Torrejón Combined Air Operations Center (CAOC-TJ) gave the scramble order (on quick reaction alert) to the Spanish F-18s from the “Paznic” Detachment 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 search and monitoring. 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.
In addition to the fighter planes, the MAMBA anti-aircraft artillery battery of the French Army and North American maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) have participated in the search, as well as helicopters based in Mikhail Kogalniceanu.
This mission is a clear example of Spain’s unequivocal commitment to the allied countries, as well as the excellent integration of the respective air assets in order to exercise joint protection of the airspace of NATO’s eastern flank.
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