The President of Romania, Klaus Iohannis has met members of the Royal Air Force 135 Expeditionary Air Wing based in Eastern Romania.
After speaking with the pilots and ground crew, President Iohannis said :
“I’m impressed because in my opinion everything that is going on here has a very high professional standard and, I’m most impressed because everybody and I mean absolutely everybody told me all of you work very well together and this really makes me proud of the teams we have here.”
The Royal Air Force has four Typhoon aircraft deployed at Mihail Kogalniceanu for four months to enhance air policing capability as part of the NATO Assurance Measures introduced in 2014.
The President added:
“Of course I want to tell you that what you do here is very important. It is not only important for Romania, it is important for NATO, it is important obviously for our partners and allies and I think it is very important for the people in the region because I think it gives them the feeling of safety and knowing that we are protected is probably the most important thing nowadays”
The President witnessed a pair of Typhoons take-off for a training sortie, and saw how their impressive performance climb capability in gaining altitude makes them such a potent force when scrambled.
The President finished his visit by saying:
“Security and safety and certainty are important key words, and your contribution here is very important. So thank you all.”
One hundred and forty three personnel from the Royal Air Force, forming 135 Expeditionary Air Wing are based at Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase supporting four Typhoon aircraft from 3(F) Squadron to enhance the NATO Southern Air Policing mission led by the Romanian Air Force.
Editor: Flight Lieutenant Cameron Rennie
Images: Cpl Jimmy Wise
MOD Crown Copyright 2017