A detachment of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Boeing E-3 Sentry radar planes will be sent this week to Bucharest. AWACS (Airborne Warning and Control System) aircraft will take off from the Romanian capital to monitor Russia.
According to Military Alliance Air Command led by the United States, the AWACS should arrive in the country this Tuesday (17). From there, they will support the Alliance's reinforced presence in the region and monitor Russian military activity. NATO did not reveal how many planes will be sent to Romania.
"As Russia's illegal war in Ukraine continues to threaten peace and security in Europe, there should be no doubt about NATO's determination to protect and defend every inch of Allied territory," said NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu.
“Our AWACS can detect aircraft hundreds of kilometers away, making them a key capability for NATO's deterrence and defense posture. Thanks to Romania for hosting the aircraft, which is an important contribution to our early warning”He added.
The deployment of the E-3s is part of NATO's response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which will turn one year old at the end of February. The alliance has significantly increased its presence in Eastern Europe with fighter, surveillance and in-flight refueling aircraft. Since February 2022, radar planes have been conducting regular patrols in Eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea region to track Russian warplanes close to the organization's borders.