Paznic' Detachment in Romania incorporates a 31 Wing A400 aircraft

• The air contingent has reached the equator of its deployment as part of the Alliance's eastern flank air protection and surveillance operation

The Tactical Air Detachment (DAT) 'Paznic' - based at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base, Romania, as part of NATO's 'Persistent Effort' operation - has received a 31st Wing A400 aircraft with in-flight refuelling capability. This addition increases the range and endurance of the detachment's aircraft force, as well as the number of military personnel in the detachment.

The mission of the current contingent of the DAT ‘Paznic’ began in late November with the arrival of the first troops of the 14 Wing. They relieved the 12th and 15th Wing, which had been performing the air policing mission since August. Initially, the detachment comprised six Eurofighter aircraft from the Albacete 14th Wing, with a force of about 140 military personnel from up to 17 different air and space units, including support controllers based at the tactical and air control centres in Bucharest.

From the beginning of the mission, nearly 400 flight hours have been flown on approximately 200 missions, including both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, conducted during day and night, some of them with in-flight refuelling. During its deployment, the DAT ‘Paznic’ has cooperated with up to eight countries.

Another of the detachment's milestones is the assembly of two deployable shelters for aircraft by the Second Air Deployment Support Squadron (SEADA), which has improved operability in adverse conditions.

The participation of Spanish air assets in NATO's eastern flank deterrence and defence missions illustrates the strong commitment of the Spanish Armed Forces to international peace and security.

NATO IAMD-Persistent Effort

The Spanish contingent deployed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu air base (Romania) belongs to the NATO IAMD operation ‘Persistent Effort’, which also includes the UDAA NASAMS in Latvia, the Patriot Battery in Türkiye and the ‘Tigru’ Detachment - with the radar of the Mobile Air Control Group (GRUMOCA) - also deployed in Romania, on the shores of the Black Sea.

NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (NATO IAMD) is a key and ongoing mission in times of peace, crisis and conflict. It safeguards and protects Alliance territory, populations and armed forces against air and missile threats and attacks. In doing so, IAMD contributes to the Alliance's deterrence, common security and freedom of action. To this end, IAMD encompasses all measures to deter and defend against air and missile threats or to defeat or reduce the effectiveness of hostile air action. NATO IAMD is implemented through the NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence System (NATINAMDS), a network that interconnects NATO and national systems; it comprises sensors, command and control centres and weapon systems.

With this important deployment in the IAMD, Spain contributes to the protection of the eastern flank of the allied territory. This is evidence of our solidarity with our allies, with whom we share the values that uphold and protect democracy, freedom and global security.