Spain has led a multinational air training exercise in Romania aimed at strengthening NATO’s deterrence and response capabilities on the eastern flank of Europe.
The maneuver brought together forces from Romania, Greece, Turkey, Spain, and the United States, who operated from various bases and integrated in-flight refueling aircraft.
The Spanish contingent was primarily represented by the Peacekeeper Tactical Air Detachment, deployed at the Romanian airbase Mihail Kogălniceanu. A Spanish pilot took on the responsibility of meticulously planning the mission and subsequently directing its tactical execution.
From Spain, the Combined Air Operations Center in Torrejón participated in coordinating the planning.
An Operation to Test Reaction Capability
The exercise was conducted under the framework of the so-called Flexible Deterrence Option (FDO), a set of measures designed to offer various response options in the event of a crisis and to contribute to deterrence, avoiding possible escalation.
The maneuvers posed a multidomain integration scenario based on the principles of what is known as Agile Combat Employment.
This concept aims to increase the ability of air forces to operate flexibly and in a dispersed manner, reducing their vulnerability and facilitating the rapid movement of aircraft, personnel, and resources between different locations.
During the exercise, that very capability for dispersion and maneuver, as well as interoperability among forces from different countries, was put to the test. The participating units also trained in penetration tactics, fire coordination, and protection of critical assets.
The Peacekeeper Detachment
The Peacekeeper Tactical Air Detachment is part of NATO’s Enhanced Air Policing mission in Romania.
It is deployed at the Mihail Kogălniceanu airbase, located near Constanța and the Black Sea. The facility plays a significant role within the allied posture in this area of Europe.
Its main mission is to contribute to deterrence and protect allied airspace, maintaining the capability to respond to both conventional and unconventional air threats.
The Spanish presence also enhances operational integration with the Romanian Armed Forces and with contingents from other Alliance countries deployed in the region.
The detachment’s activities take place in a particularly demanding environment. Just days before this exercise, Spanish F-18 fighters stationed in Romania participated in neutralizing a drone that had violated allied airspace on the eastern flank.
The Growing Challenge of Drones
The evolution of unmanned aerial systems has become one of the main challenges for air defense.
The small size of some drones, their flight characteristics, and particularly the cost difference compared to traditional systems used to intercept them necessitate adaptation of procedures and capabilities.
The Combined Air Operations Center in Torrejón is also working on addressing these types of threats. From its facilities, a significant portion of European airspace is continuously monitored, and operations are coordinated to ensure the air security of allied countries under its responsibility.
The Spanish participation in Romania is part of a broader deployment of the Armed Forces on NATO’s eastern flank. Throughout 2026, Spain maintains ground forces in Latvia, Slovakia, and Romania, participates in air policing and surveillance operations, and contributes to the Alliance’s permanent naval groups.
The multinational exercise conducted in Romania adds an essentially operational dimension to this deployment: verifying that air forces from different countries can plan, deploy, and act jointly in the event of a crisis in one of the regions that currently concentrates much of NATO’s defensive efforts.
