The Diplomat
Four Eurofighter aircraft from the 14th Air Wing of the Spanish Air Force moved yesterday from Albacete Air Base to Graf Ignatievo Air Base in Bulgaria to join NATO’s deterrence missions on its eastern flank.
The deployment comes in the midst of the crisis with Russia, although it is part of the Atlantic Alliance’s regular airspace surveillance missions in which Spain has been participating for almost a decade, reports Europa Press.
The contingent is made up of a total of 130 military personnel. Part of them travelled to Bulgaria days ago to prepare the logistical requirements and the four Eurofighters that arrived yesterday complete the deployment, under the name of the Strela Air Tactical Detachment.
Given the controversy raised by Spain’s participation in the Ukraine crisis, the Ministry of Defence stresses that the deployment is part of the Armed Forces’ normal activities “in compliance with Spain’s international commitments, for the benefit of deterrence and the defence of NATO countries”.
During the mission, air operations will be directed from the Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejón Air Base (CAOC Torrejón), which is responsible for surveillance and control of NATO airspace in southern Europe.
The Air Force first deployed internationally for NATO’s air policing mission in 2006 and has participated annually on an ongoing basis since 2015.
Its most recent contribution took place in February and March last year, with the deployment to Mihail Koglaniceanu Airport (Romania) of a similar contingent to the current one, on that occasion equipped with Eurofighters from the 11th Wing of the Morón Air Base.
The four aircraft that will remain in Bulgaria until 31 March will then head to Lithuania, where they will be joined by another two, to begin a new Baltic Air Police mission.
The Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, stressed on Thursday that the Spanish fighters will not take on offensive missions in Bulgaria, but will be responsible for surveillance and patrolling the airspace in a deterrent role.
