Page 70 - Air Forces Monthly - September 2017

ENHANCED AIR POLICING: ROMANIA

a more diverse set of scenarios.
“Our training schedule has not changed,” Ukraine
observed Lt Col Marincas. “We continue
our training programme as before to Hungary
maintain our readiness and to prepare
new pilots that are coming in. Moldova
“Whenever there’s an overlap with the
RAF detachment’s training schedule
we try to make the most of it, but we
also have specific training missions that
we plan and perform with them. Câmpia Turzii Bacău
“We train with them in various scenarios.
We send our more experienced pilots to Romania
train with their younger pilots and they
do the same for us. We have a common
briefing and we do DACT BFM [dissimilar air Boboc
combat training, basic fighter manoeuvres],
from basic 1-v-1 to more complex scenarios.
“We’ve also been training with them Bucharest-Henri Coanda
in other missions, close air support Mihail Kogălniceanu
with the US JTACs [Joint Terminal Attack Serbia Borcea-Fetești
Controllers], joint operations with Bucharest
ships in the Black Sea and operations
with US helicopters in Romania. We’re
working with [the RAF] to strengthen our Black Sea
relationship and to have a better common Bulgaria
understanding of how we all operate.
“Very small details matter and we
train to be able to make these details with whom we’re really good friends.” and experiences. “When it comes to
clear. Everything from very small Sqn Ldr Hanson noted the advantages intercepts we’ve made in the past, we don’t
differences in wording up to social of having “fantastic” airspace and ranges discuss classified information at pilot level,
interaction helps create a stronger for training: “We’re going to be involved but we do discuss the experiences we’ve had
bond and if it comes to performing joint in major exercises in the area with some to deal with,” remarked Lt Col Marincas.
operations we’ll all be better off having of the neighbouring countries. There’s Paul Hanson added: “Although there are
had these joint training missions.” also the US Army, US Marine Corps some differences among what we’ve seen,
Wg Cdr Coe described the training between and US Air Force in the area and we’ve they’re pretty minor. On the whole our
the Typhoon and MiG-21 as “sensational”, been able to train with them too. experiences and reactions are the same.”
adding: “It’s great for the interoperability “These opportunities don’t present NATO AIRCOM is confident that Operation
between us. We’ve done some air-to-air themselves as much in the UK so it’s a Biloxi will strengthen the response against
work with the Romanian Air Force Pumas, different style of training here, a different air threats on its eastern border and
the first time this has ever been done. emphasis, but very, very valuable.” reaffirm NATO’s commitment to its allies.
“We’ve done fighter affiliation training, “We’re convinced that the Royal Air Force
which means helicopters trying to evade Expeditionary force detachment will successfully contribute to the
a fighter trying to shoot it down. The The 135 EAW has brought more than jets to safeguarding of Romania’s airspace integrity,”
Puma pilots as well as the Typhoon pilots Romania: it’s designed to be able to deploy the AIRCOM spokesperson declared.
have had a great training exercise. to just about any airfield in the world, and “Their presence is sending a visible
“Another thing we’ve been doing is brings a range of personnel to do the job. signal of NATO’s commitment, solidarity
working with the Romanian Navy [in] a Wg Cdr Coe explained: “There are people and resolve to the Romanian public
maritime integration exercise. We’ve in Bucharest controlling the aircraft; until their handover to the Royal
had [their] Type 22 frigates out to sea we’ve brought fire trucks to work with the Canadian Air Force in September.”
with a US ship, the USS Oscar Austin, Romanian fire service, we have paramedics Operation Biloxi began on May 1 and
and our Typhoons and the MiG-21s, and and doctors working together and all of will end on August 31. With several
we’ve had a big operation all together. a sudden we’re learning. Everybody is large-scale international exercises
“It was the first time we’ve done that and working together, from the mechanics taking place on Romania’s ranges this
we’ll do it a few more times during our on the ground up to the pilots.” summer, there will be more opportunities
detachment here. It would be unwise to Meanwhile the pilots from the two nations for both air forces to strengthen their
miss the opportunity to train with Romania, have discussed similar missions operational readiness even further. AFM
Below: The sharp end of 135 Expeditionary Air Wing.
The RAF Typhoons will remain on duty in Romania
until August 31, after which the Royal Canadian Air
Force will assume QRA duties with CF-188s.

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