CAF To Patrol Skies over Romania

DND Press Release

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is sending approximately 135 CAF personnel and four Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornets to Constanta, Romania, to participate in NATO enhanced Air Policing from September to December 2017.

This mission is part of Operation Reassurance, Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance and deterrence measures. Air Task Force (ATF) Romania will augment the Romanian Air Force’s capability to preserve the integrity of its airspace.

NATO Air Policing has been part of Alliance assurance and deterrence measures since 2014. These measures demonstrate the collective resolve of Allies to protect NATO territory and populations.

“The Canadian Armed Forces is committed to the principle of collective defence of the Alliance, which is at the very heart of NATO’s founding treaty. Our military personnel are well-trained and committed to contribute to NATO enhanced Air Policing that ensures the integrity of Allies’ airspace. They are proud to work on behalf of Canadians, projecting the best of what Canada has to offer,” said Lieutenant-General Steve Bowes, Commander, Canadian Joint Operations Command.

"An Air Task Force is an agile and flexible organization that is always ready to employ air power and provide support wherever and whenever Canada requires. Our Air Task Force in Romania is proud to participate in the cooperative defence activities that support NATO’s enhanced Air Policing,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Mark Hickey, Commander, Air Task Force Romania.

The deployed CAF members that form the ATF in Romania are mainly from 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron out of 4 Wing Cold Lake, supported by personnel from 2 Air Expeditionary Wing and 17 Wing Winnipeg.

NATO enhanced Air Policing is a peacetime collective defence mission, safeguarding the integrity of the Alliance airspace. The CAF has supported this mission, on a rotational basis with other NATO Allies, as part of Op Reassurance since May 2014.

The CAF first deployed an ATF to Romania as part of Op Reassurance from April to August 2014 at the Romanian Air Force 71st Air Base in Campia Turzii. During this mission, the ATF was engaged in multinational training opportunities that developed interoperability in the areas of air defence, air superiority, and tactical support missions.

Op Reassurance refers to the military activities undertaken by the CAF since 2014 to support NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Eastern and Central Europe with the aim of reassuring nations in the region of NATO’s intent to support their stability and security.