In view of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the NATO defense alliance has transferred to Romania several of its AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control System) reconnaissance aircraft, which are normally stationed in Germany. The Romanian Ministry of Defense announced that the machines arrived today at the Otopeni air base near Bucharest on schedule. “Romania and allies are safe,” Defense Secretary Angel Tilvar wrote on Facebook.
The aircraft are intended to support the alliance’s increased presence in the region and monitor Russian military activities, the NATO air force command authority announced in advance. 185 soldiers will also be transferred to Romania for the mission. The AWACS will remain in Otopeni for several weeks. The airport is only around 200 kilometers from the EU and NATO country’s eastern border with Ukraine. Furthermore, the north of Romania also borders the country attacked by Russia.
The AWACS are based on Boeing 707 aircraft and, with their mushroom-shaped radar structure, are capable of locating and identifying other aircraft over 400 kilometers away. The machines can transmit the information to everyone else in the airspace who is technically equipped to do so. This means they could theoretically also be used as flying battle control centers.