'Paznic' detachment supports the training of future Romanian Air Force officers

•  The air detachment, deployed in Romania, contributes to the protection of NATO's eastern flank

The Tactical Air Detachment  ‘Paznic’ has provided training to future officers of the Romanian Air Force, aspiring to serve as fighter and helicopter pilots.

The students visited the Mikhail Kogalniceanu air base, where the DAT ‘Paznic’ is deployed. After being welcomed by the base authorities, they visited the units and air assets stationed there, including the F-18 aircraft of the Spanish Air and Space Forces, as well as the helicopters belonging to the 1st Cavalry Division of the US Army. The future Romanian pilots received a detailed explanation of the weapons system of these aircraft.

On the other hand, the Romanian Air Force Officers Academy ‘Henri Coanda’ invited the Force Commander of the DAT ‘Paznic’, Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Ichaso Franco, to give a lecture about the work of the Spanish detachments of the three Armies operating on the eastern flank of NATO, both in the framework of Operation Persistent Effort and in the Eastern Flank Land Deployment. In this context, Lieutenant Colonel Ichaso highlighted Spain's commitment as a NATO ally to collective defence and the common values of the Alliance.

DAT ‘Paznic’ was also visited by students of the ‘Top Management Internal Affairs’ course of the National College of Internal Affairs of Romania. This course provides training in internal affairs for senior civil servants who hold senior management positions or experts in internal affairs, staff from other fields of activity and representatives of civil society, who are being trained to become the heads of the most important units of the Romanian state security forces, such as the ‘Politia Nationala’ or the ‘Jandarmeria’.

“Persistent Effort” Operation

The Spanish contingent deployed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu air base (Romania) is part of the ‘Persistent Effort’ operation, which also includes the UDAA NASAMS in Latvia, the Patriot battery in Turkey and the ‘Tigru’ detachment - with the radar of the Mobile Air Control Group (GRUMOCA by its Spanish acronym) - also deployed in Romania.

In summary, Spain's participation in protecting the eastern flank of Allied territory is a sign of Spain's commitment to the Alliance and another example of solidarity with our allies for the protection of democracy, freedom and global security.dial.