In a ceremony attended by international representatives, the Deputy Commander of NATO’s southern Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejon, Spain, Brigadier General Avraam Kazantzoglou, Hellenic Air Force, handed over the mission-ready certificate to the Finnish F/A-18 Detachment Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Rami Lindström.
In his remarks, General Kazantzoglou thanked Romania and Finland for their generous contribution and ironclad commitment to making the skies of Europe safer and more secure than ever before. “The Euro-Atlantic area is not at peace, as our interests, values and democratic way of life are challenged, but NATO is determined to safeguard the freedom and security of Allies against any and every threat,” he added. “NATO does not seek confrontation and poses no threat to the Russian Federation. We will continue to respond to Russian threats and hostile actions in a united and responsible way,” he concluded.
“Finland joined NATO last year, so this two-month deployment to Romania will be the Finnish Air Force’s first-ever major contribution to NATO’s collective peacetime missions,” said Lieutenant Colonel Lindström. “Last week, we demonstrated during an evaluation that our detachment knows NATO tactics, techniques and procedures, and is ready to assume Quick Reaction Alert duty here at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, he said adding “this deployment is an important milestone in our NATO integration. Our presence and readiness, in close cooperation with the Royal Air Force and the Romanian Air Force, will contribute to NATO’s collective defence and deterrence here in the Black Sea region.”
The seven Finnish F/A-18 jets will fly Air Policing sorties alongside the British Royal Air Force Typhoons – also deployed in Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base leading the mission until the end of July – and Romanian F-16 fighter jets operating out of Borcea Air Base. They will respond collectively to potential threats to Romania’s airspace watching over the territorial integrity. NATO introduced enhanced Air Policing missions in its eastern member countries in 2014 in response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea to assure Allies and deter potential aggression.
Both the Finnish and British fighter jets also participate in Allied training activities, assurance measures and combined joint manoeuvres in the region and beyond. This week, they launch to fly sorties in support of NATO’s major Integrated Air and Missile Defence live-firing exercise Ramstein Legacy conducted in Romania and Bulgaria with sixteen participating Allies
