A new squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcon enters mission under NATO command, Defense Minister Ionut Mosteanu announced on Friday.
''Romania defends its airspace. A new squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcons enters mission under NATO command. As of today, the 48th Fighter Squadron from the 71st Air Base in Campia Turzii is performing Air Policing missions in Romania's airspace. It is the second squadron of F-16 Fighting Falcons certified for NATO missions - a clear proof of the professionalism of the Romanian Air Force and of our capacity to operate alongside NATO allies'', Mosteanu wrote on Facebook.
Currently, Romania has three squadrons that ensure the protection of the airspace - two Romanian ones, at Fetesti and Campia Turzii, and an allied one, made up of Typhoon aircraft of the German Air Force, at Mihail Kogalniceanu.
''Together, they form a real security umbrella on NATO's Eastern Flank. Every air policing mission, every flight hour, every team behind these aircraft is part of a collective effort - that of preserving peace and security in the region. I congratulate the Romanian military staff involved in this process, the technicians, the pilots and the entire team that made the certification of the new squadron possible. It is a new step forward for a safer, respected and prepared Romania,'' the minister said.
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