The F-2000s took off for an Air Defense mission during Operation “Black Shield” This morning, Thursday, June 13, two Italian F-2000 Eurofighter jets of the Air Task Force 4th Wing, deployed at Mihail Kogalniceanu in Romania as part of the NATO Enhanced Air Policing mission, took off following a rapid takeoff order – in technical jargon “Scramble” – received from the CAOC (Combined Air Operation Centre) in Torrejon in Spain. This is the first operational “Scramble” for the Italian interceptor aircraft deployed in Operation “Black Shield” in Romania. The activation of the Quick Reaction Alert (Q.R.A.) cell was requested as the unidentified aircraft of Russian nationality had entered the area of competence of the Romanian air traffic control authorities (FIR – Flight Information Region) and, given the route followed, they could potentially affect the airspace of the Alliance. The Italian Eurofighters, as required by NATO procedures, reached the affected area and remained in flight to protect the airspace off the Romanian coast, maneuvering in a so-called “Combat Air Patrol”, ready to intervene should suspicious traffic have indicated their intention to enter Romanian airspace. The suspicious aircraft remained outside the Romanian Airspace, so the two Italian fighter jets were authorized to return once the operational requirement ceased. The scramble is precisely the operational activity that consists in rapidly launching fighter aircraft in order to intercept and identify unknown aircraft that violate the Alliance airspace and that could, in some way, pose a threat to the safety of the skies from any potential unauthorized intrusion. The Air Task Force 4th Wing is contributing, together with the Romanian Air Force (the Romanian air force), to ensuring, since the beginning of May, the integrity of Romania’s airspace as part of the NATO Enhanced Air Policing mission, demonstrating readiness and providing a deterrent tool for the Alliance. With Operation NATO Enhanced Air Policing “Black Shield”, the Air Force Task Force 4th Wing will contribute to ensuring the integrity of Romania’s airspace, strengthening the surveillance activity normally carried out by the Mi-21s of the Romanian Air Force, with an integrated defense system with Eurofighter aircraft from the 4th, 36th and 37th Squadrons.
