The Diplomat
Two Spanish Air Force Eurofighters deployed in Bulgaria on Thursday completed their first deterrence mission over the Black Sea as part of the NATO Air Policing operation in which they are participating, reports Europa Press.
Spain has sent a total of four fighter jets from the 14th Wing of the Spanish Air Force and 130 troops to the Bulgarian base ‘Graf Ignatievo’ to collaborate with the Bulgarian Air Force in the surveillance and patrolling of its airspace and to prevent the incursion of unidentified Russian aircraft.
Two of the Spanish Eurofighters left on their first mission on Thursday after foreign aircraft were detected near the Bulgarian border that did not comply with international flight regulations, according to local broadcaster Nova TV.
Bulgarian General Nikolay Rusev explained that the Spanish Eurofighters took off in bad weather with the intention of intercepting the unidentified aircraft, but they quickly withdrew and the NATO fighters returned to base.
Although the Spanish aircraft arrived in Bulgaria a week ago, the certification ceremony took place on Thursday to officially start their airspace surveillance mission, which will last until 31 March.
The four Eurofighter EF-2000 Typhoons will work alongside MiG-29 aircraft of the Bulgarian Air Force and, once this operation is over, they will fly to Lithuania to participate in a new Baltic Air Police mission.
