Tactical Air Detachment “Paznic” fully integrated into the Quick Reaction Alert service

•  After completing its initial integration phase, the detachment has conducted its first A-Scramble mission alongside the German Air Force’s Tactical Air Wing 71 “Richthofen.”

The Tactical Air Detachment (TAD) “Paznic” has completed its initial integration phase and has now fully joined the Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) service as part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing (eAP-70) mission on the Alliance’s eastern flank, within the framework of NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defence (IAMD).

This entry into service entails permanent availability — 24 hours a day, seven days a week — of aircraft and personnel prepared to respond immediately to any potential air threat. Prior to assuming QRA duties, various activities were conducted to facilitate integration into the operational environment. These included familiarisation flights and joint sorties with German Air Force Eurofighters, enabling the training and coordination of operational procedures.

Now fully engaged in the operation, yesterday two Eurofighters, one German and one Spanish, assigned to the QRA service were activated in an A-Scramble at the request of the Romanian Control and Reporting Centre (CRC). The NATO Combined Air Operations Centre in Torrejón (CAOC-TJ) ordered the take-off of these aircraft. The two fighters were positioned near the border in response to a suspected violation of Romanian airspace by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the origin of which is currently under investigation by NATO. Following the activation, the aircraft returned safely to Mihail Kogălniceanu (MK) Air Base, where they resumed QRA readiness.

Comprehensive readiness and effectiveness

To complete its integration, TAD “Paznic”, under the command of Commander Félix Diéguez Pita, conducted, together with German military personnel, an emergency response drill involving overheated brakes, as well as a pilot rescue exercise. These activities tested reaction capability in the event of potential real-life incidents and further strengthened operational safety and interoperability between the Spanish and German units.

The most significant milestone during this deployment has been the integration of advanced German METEOR air-to-air missiles onto Spanish Eurofighters by a mixed team composed of military personnel from both nations. This achievement has enabled the validation of common procedures and reinforced the joint operational capability of the two Allied nations.

In this context, Commander Juan Bengoechea, Chief of Operations of the detachment, highlighted that “the high level of integration achieved with the Luftwaffe in the defence of Allied airspace underscores the importance of working together under the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept.” This concept promotes flexibility and interoperability, enabling operations from multiple locations without reliance on large permanent bases.

This Spanish contingent, deployed at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania, consists of 53 military personnel and three Eurofighters from the Spanish Air and Space Force, maintaining a high level of readiness, flexibility and preparedness to fulfill their air surveillance and deterrence tasks within Romanian airspace.