‘Ala 14’ Eurofighters relieve ‘Ala 15’ F-18s at Detachment ‘Paznic’.

• The Tactical Air Detachment (DAT in Spanish) ‘Paznic’ contributes to air surveillance on NATO's eastern flank within the framework of Operation Persistent Effort.

The Eurofighter aircraft belonging to the 14th Wing have relieved the F-18 fighters of the 15th Wing at the Mihail Kogălniceanu air base (Romania), where they are deployed within the framework of Operation Persistent Effort, under the operational control of the Operations Command (MOPS by its Spanish acronym). During the ceremony, the outgoing Force Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Rafael Ichaso Franco, handed over command to Lieutenant Colonel Víctor Manuel Garrido Espada.

The handover ceremony was attended by the Chief of Staff of the Romanian Air Force, Major-General Leonard-Gabriel Baraboi, the Spanish Ambassador to Romania, José Antonio Hernández Pérez-Solórzano, the Deputy Operations Commander of the Operations Command of the Defence Staff (EMAD in Spanish), Brigadier General Fernando Martín Pascual, and representatives of the military forces deployed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu air base.

The ceremony concluded with the playing of the anthems of Romania and Spain, the presentation of decorations and the symbolic handover between the incoming and outgoing Force Commanders.

In addition to the relief of the contingent's military personnel, the detachment's weapons systems were also relieved with the departure to their respective bases of the F-18 aircraft, which have served on Romanian soil for four months. The arrival of the Eurofighters will contribute to the air surveillance of NATO's eastern flank until March 2025.

The Spanish contingent deployed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu air base (Romania) participated in numerous exercises with allied countries such as the United States, France, Belgium and Italy, as well as conducting twelve quick reaction activities (A-scramble) by the aircraft of the ‘Paznic’ detachment in response to a possible intrusion into Romanian airspace.

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 NASAMS UDAAs in Estonia and 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 on the shores of the Black Sea, in Romania.

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, with whom we share the values that uphold and protect democracy, freedom and global security.