Securing NATO's Eastern Frontier: The German Air Force Shores Up Romania's Skies
As tensions simmer on NATO's eastern frontier, the German Air Force is revving up its defenses in Romania. Four Eurofighter jets and a cutting-edge anti-drone system have been deployed to safeguard the alliance's south-eastern flank. This marks Germany's third stint in the region, with troops already having been stationed there in 2021 and 2022.
Lieutenant Colonel Markus Kuchenbaur is commanding the Bundeswehr contingent, which comprises around 150 military personnel. This deployment follows a string of incidents involving Russian drones in the Danube Delta, prompting a NATO response to protect Romania's borders.
The Twelve-Mile Zone and Britain's Downed Drone
The area is geographically narrow, with the war in Ukraine merely a stone's throw away from an aviation perspective. Kuchenbaur likens it to an "arrowhead," ready for a potential conflict. It takes just five to eight minutes for the Eurofighters to fly from Romania's Mihail Kogălniceanu military airfield to the Ukrainian border.
The Black Sea coast is "practically within our noses," a mere 12 miles away, marking the start of Romania's international airspace channel used by Russian military aircraft. The twist in the tale is the American downed drone incident, that occurred when a U.S. drone was reportedly struck by a Russian fighter jet.
The Role of Eurofighters and the ASUL System
The German jets, along with their loyal Eurofighters, do not venture beyond the 12 mile zone, maintaining a cautious defensive stance. Meanwhile, the ASUL, or "defense system against unmanned aerial vehicles," has been relocated to the Bundeswehr camp in Romania. The key components of this anti-drone device include an operating container, antenna systems, and a mobile jammer, capable of interrupting the drone's remote control connection.
Mission Focus and NATO Deployment
The German mission is primarily concerned with safeguarding material and personnel. ASUL has the ability to detect drones up to 40 kilometers away, while the jammer breaks the connection between the drone and its remote control, effectively disabling its guidance system. This technology has previously been used in Mali and Estonia.
The deployment is part of NATO's Enhanced Air Policing South (eAPS) program, which provides military support to states in the east and south-east that lack sufficient capabilities. The Russian edge in the Black Sea has acted as a catalyst for this mission, with NATO striving to safeguard its members against potential threats.
In conclusion, the German Air Force is bolstering NATO's eastern defenses by deploying Eurofighter jets and an ASUL anti-drone system in Romania. This mission aims to protect personnel and material while warding off potential drone threats from Russia along its southeastern flank.
