**** DND Media Release
Canada’s Air Task Force – Romania begins NATO Air Policing mission
As part of Canada’s support to NATO and European security, Air Task Force Romania (ATF-R) assumed NATO enhanced Air Policing duties today at a ceremony at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, alongside the Romanian Air Force, and other allies.
A total of eight CF-18s have deployed to Romania. While the ATF conducts 24/7 Air Policing missions using a six aircraft rotation until December 2, 2022, two additional aircraft have been temporarily deployed for concurrent NATO training activities.
This is the seventh time that Canada has deployed an ATF to Romania as part of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing mission, which has augmented and supported Baltic and Eastern European countries’ own forces on a continual basis since Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.
Under NATO command and control, the ATF conducts surveillance of Romanian and allied airspace, trains with their NATO counterparts, and if required, intercepts, identifies and/or escorts aircraft that enter the Romanian Air Defence Identification Zone.
Quick Facts
- Although the majority of aircraft and personnel for this mission are drawn from 425 Tactical Fighter Squadron based out of 3 Wing Bagotville, QC, nearly every Wing across Canada is represented in the Task Force.
- The ATF is comprised of approximately 170 personnel, including air and ground crews, as well as operations and logistical support personnel.
- Operation REASSURANCE is Canada’s contribution to NATO assurance and deterrence measures, which demonstrates Canada’s ability and willingness to react rapidly to international crises and to work side by side with its NATO Allies to reinforce the alliance’s collective security. Air Task Force – Romania is the Air component of the mission.
