The U.S. Air Force has deployed Airmen and F-16C Fighting Falcons to Campia Turzii, Romania, as a part of a Theater Security Package in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, according to a statement.
The Airmen and aircraft are assigned to the 475th Fighter Squadron, 301st Fighter Wing, Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, and are deployed as the 457th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron.
Funded through the European Deterrence Initiative, the TSP provides a more robust U.S. military rotational presence in the European theater capable of deterring, and if required, responding to regional threats.
While in theater, these personnel and aircraft will participate in multiple readiness exercises alongside NATO allies and partners to strengthen interoperability and to demonstrate U.S. commitment to the security and stability of Europe.
According to media reports in recent weeks, the Italian Air Force also is scheduled to deploy fighter aircraft to Romania under NATO’s enhanced Air Policing flying alongside the Romanian Air Force.
From early May until the end of August, four Italian Air Force Eurofighter aircraft will be deployed to Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in south east Romania augmenting and flying alongside the Romanian Air Force MiG-21 fighters to police the skies over the country adjacent to the Black Sea.
The deployment will take place within the framework of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing, which was introduced to the northeastern and southeastern Allies as an element of the Alliance’s Assurance Measures in 2014 in response to Russia’s illegal activities in Ukraine. The joint Allied missions demonstrate the collective resolve of Allies and NATO’s flexible capabilities and readiness.