NATO surveillance planes arrive in Romania to monitor Russian military activity

Europe, News January 19, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

NATO’s Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) surveillance planes arrived in Romania to support the Alliance’s reinforced regional presence and monitor Russian military activities.

The first two Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) planes landed in Romania on January 17, 2023, with one more expected to arrive later this month. The two planes would be based in Romania for several weeks.

The planes flew from Germany’s Geilenkirchen Air Base to Romania. Germany’s ambassador to Romania Peer Gebauer was present at the Otopeni airfield to receive the planes. Gebauer said that deployment for the AWACS plans in Romania “underlines our resolve to stay strong in this time of crisis.” “This AWACS surveillance mission, which is to start today in Romania, is another proof of the resolve of our commitment to defend every inch of allied territory,” he said.

NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu also released a statement about the prospects of the surveillance mission by stating that “As Russia’s illegal war in Ukraine continues to threaten peace and security in Europe, there must be no doubt about NATO’s resolve to protect and defend every inch of Allied territory.”

Lungescu added that “Our AWACS can detect aircraft hundreds of kilometers away, making them a key capability for NATO’s deterrence and defense posture. I thank Romania for hosting the aircraft, which makes an important contribution to our early warning.”

NATO has a fleet of 14 AWACS aircraft, which NATO refers to as its “eyes in the sky”. All 14 of NATO’s AWASC planes are usually stationed in west Germany. They have large fuselage-mounted radar domes and can detect aircraft hundreds of kilometers away. Around 180 military personnel will be deployed to the Otopeni Air Base to support the aircraft and surveillance mission.

*^{NATO deployed AWACS planes to Romania to conduct air surveillance missions. (Image Credit: NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force)}*

In response to Russia’s war in Ukraine, NATO has increased its air presence in eastern Europe with additional fighters, surveillance aircraft, and tankers. Since February 2022, NATO AWACS have conducted regular patrols over eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea region to track Russian warplanes near NATO borders.

An airborne early warning and control aircraft is an airborne radar system designed to detect aircraft, ships, vehicles, missiles, and other incoming projectiles at long ranges and perform command and control of the battlespace in an air engagement by directing fighter and attack aircraft strikes. AWACS units are also used to carry out surveillance, including over ground targets, and frequently perform battle management command and control.

When used at altitude, the radar on the aircraft allows the operators to detect and track targets and distinguish between friendly and hostile aircraft much farther away than a similar ground-based radar. Like a ground-based radar, it can be detected by opposing forces, but because of its mobility and extended sensor range, it is much less vulnerable to counter-attacks.