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Spain

A detachment of five Spanish Eurofighters, accompanied by approximately 60 support personnel, has recently joined NATO's Air Shielding mission at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base along Romania's Black Sea coast.

The Spanish Detachment Commander, Lieutenant Colonel Victor Garrido, stated that their unit, dubbed PAZNIC, arrived on April 8. They are slated to integrate with Allied forces for two weeks, during which they will conduct training and deterrence flights.

Lieutenant Colonel Garrido emphasized the importance of their contribution to NATO's defensive posture along the eastern flank, working in tandem with other Allied forces. This mission aims to enhance the air and missile defense capabilities of NATO territory, reassure Allied populations, and improve overall readiness for defense.

The deployment follows Agile Combat Employment (ACE) procedures, an operational concept focused on enhancing resilience and survivability while generating air combat power from dispersed locations. This approach requires coordination between the deploying force and the host base, with limited support staff relying heavily on cooperation with local resources.

The Spanish Air Force sees this deployment as valuable experience in implementing the ACE concept, which is designed to ensure readiness and adaptability in responding to potential threats to NATO territory.

In addition to the Spanish Eurofighters, the Air Shielding mission incorporates contributions from other Allied fighter squadrons and Surface-Based Air and Missile Defense units, such as the French MAMBA system stationed in Romania.

Overall, the participation of Spanish forces in NATO's Air Shielding mission underscores the Alliance's commitment to collective defense and the strengthening of capabilities along its eastern flank.