Yesterday morning, two F-2000 Eurofighter fighters, deployed to Mihail Kogalniceanu in Romania as part of the NATO Enhanced Air Policing mission, took off following the order for rapid take-off - in technical jargon Scramble - from the CAOC NATO (Combined Air Operations Center) of Torrejon (Spain).
This is the second activation of "Alpha scramble" for Italian interceptor fighter aircraft engaged, since May, in the operation Black Shield, after the first take-off order took place around 15 days ago.
The activation of the two Italian Typhoons of the QRA (Quick Reaction Alert) cell was requested as some unidentified aircraft had entered, without authorization, the FIR (Flight Information Region) Airspace, which is the responsibility of the Romanian control bodies. At the same time, given the route they were taking, they could potentially quickly reach Alliance airspace.
For the second time, the Italian aircraft, which took off in a few minutes, reached the area of interest and, as required by NATO procedures, remained in flight to protect the Romanian Airspace, carrying out patrol activities in a circle, in a so-called CAP (Combat Air Patrol), monitoring the traffic that remained a short distance away, in order to ensure a rapid intervention if the unidentified thirsts had violated the Airspace of Romania.
Once the operational need ceased, the two Typhoons were called to return to Mihail Kogalniceanu airport, thus fulfilling their duties towards the Alliance.
