The certification ceremony of the Italian detachment that will execute the enforced air-policing mission will take place in the presence of the defence minister Gabriel Les, on Tuesday, 14 May, starting 11.00, in 57 Mihail Kogalnicean Air Base.

The Italian detachment made up of approximately 130 soldiers (pilots and technical personnel) and four Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, will conduct air-policing missions over the next four months together with Romanian Air Force soldiers (with MiG-21 LanceRs), under NATO command.

The Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft of the Italian Air Forces arrived to Romania 10 days ago.

The journalists interested in attending the ceremony are requested to send their identification data (name, surname, series and ID number, the media institution he/she represents and their phone number), as well as the identification data of the vehicle, on email address um01837@roaf.ro, until Monday, 13 May, 14.00.
The mass-media representatives will be expected on Tuesday, 14 May, between 9.45 and 10.15, at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base Headquarters.
Point of contact: Colonel Ionut Neamu, telephone number: 0724 348 252.

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The Italian Air Forces (IAF) participate in their first mission in Romania and take part in this mission on rotational basis with other allied nations, as part of Reassurance Operation.
The Air-policing missions conducted jointly will contribute to the development of the reaction and deterrence capability as well as to the consolidation of the interoperability between the Romanian and Italian Air Forces.
The deployment of the IAF aircraft to Romania is part of the implementation of NATO's Readiness Action Plan on its Eastern flank, both in the North and in the South areas and demonstrates NATO's unity and determination in response to the challenges posed by the security environment.

The Press Office