Two NATO E-3A Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) arrived at the Romanian Air Force Base at Otopeni near Bucharest to support NATO reinforced presence in the eastern part of the Alliance and monitor Russian military activity. When landed, NATO’s ‘Eye in the Sky’ was welcomed by the Romanian Chief of Defence Staff, General Daniel Petrescu. Also attending at the landing was German Ambassador in Romania, Dr. Peer Gebauer.
The deployment of the NATO AWACS is part of an ongoing and broader Allied effort to collect information, intelligence and surveillance. This deployment is part of a larger effort to ensure situational awareness for NATO and is part of ongoing Assurance Measure missions.
“As Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine continues to threaten peace and security in Europe, there must be no doubt about NATO’s resolve to protect and defend every inch of Allied territory, our AWACS can detect aircraft hundreds of kilometres away, making them a key capability for NATO’s deterrence and defence posture. I thank Romania for hosting the aircraft, which makes an important contribution to our early warning,”
NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu.
In response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, NATO has increased its air presence in eastern Europe with additional fighters, surveillance aircraft, and tankers. Since February 2022, NATO AWACS have conducted regular patrols over eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea region to track Russian warplanes near NATO borders.
The NATO AWACS will start reconnaissance flights, solely over Alliance territory, in the coming days. The mission is scheduled to last several weeks. The aircraft belong to a fleet of 14 NATO surveillance aircraft usually based in Geilenkirchen, Germany. Around 180 military personnel will deploy the Romanian Air Force base at Otopeni near Bucharest in support of the aircraft.
