The drones, operated by around 40 Dutch Air Force personnel from a military base in Luna, Romania, are part of the preparation for NATO’s operation “Guardian Reaper.” The aircraft, controlled remotely from Leeuwarden Air Base over 2200 kilometers away, embarked on their first flights above Romania and the Black Sea. This remote operation is facilitated through specially equipped sea containers at Leeuwarden, serving as distant cockpits, highlighting the technological prowess in modern warfare.
De eerste testvlucht met de MQ-9 Reaper vliegtuigen in 🇷🇴 werd vandaag uitgevoerd. Het besturen van de onbemande vliegtuigen gebeurt vanaf @VlbLeeuwarden, zo’n 2200 km verderop van waar de operatie zich afspeelt.
Meer weten over deze missie? Check 👉 https://t.co/xNPMpTmAaA pic.twitter.com/ZnlYEaiQY9
— Koninklijke Luchtmacht (@Kon_Luchtmacht) March 2, 2024
Commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Jan ‘Muezli’ Ruedisueli of 306 Squadron, the operation’s focus lies in monitoring the movements of Russian and Ukrainian troops and naval ships, along with critical civilian and military infrastructures such as radar stations, missile launch sites, and airfields. The intelligence gathered plays a pivotal role in NATO’s defensive strategies along its border regions.
The MQ-9 Reapers, flying in designated corridors, are instrumental in relaying comprehensive situational reports back to the intelligence section of 306 Squadron. This information is then processed and shared with NATO under the principle of essential awareness, in collaboration with the Defence Operations Directorate (DOPS) and the National Air and Space Operations Center of the Royal Netherlands Air Force.
