NATO announced today the deployment of AWACS reconnaissance aircraft in Romania from 17 January to support a strengthened Alliance presence in the region and to “monitor Russian military activity.”

“Our AWACS system can detect aircraft hundreds of kilometers away, which is critical to the deterrence and defense of NATO,” said Alliance spokeswoman Oana Lungescu.

The aircraft, supported by resupply aircraft, will be based in Otopeni, near Bucharest, Romania, and will conduct aerial surveillance operations “exclusively over Alliance territory,” he insisted. The mission is expected to last “several weeks,” he said.

Tuesday first flight

It is expected that the first flight will take place on January 17. The aircraft is part of a NATO fleet of 14 AWACS aircraft based in Geilenkirchen, Germany, and 180 NATO troops will be deployed to Otopeni to maintain and protect the aircraft.

In response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, NATO has bolstered its eastern flank defenses with heavily armed units supported by tanks, additional surveillance and resupply aircraft.

Since February 2022, NATO AWACS have been carrying out regular patrols over Eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea region to track Russian fighters flying near the borders of the countries of the Alliance.

One of the eight tactical multinational formations deployed by NATO on its eastern flank is deployed in Romania. Under French command, it has a thousand soldiers, protected by the French MAMBA medium-range air defense system and supported by thirteen Leclerc tanks.

^{Source: APE-MEB, AFP.}