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ANG, Romanian AF partnership soars over Campia Turzii

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joe W. McFadden
  • 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
CAMPIA TURZII, Romania (AFNS) --  Thousands of Romanian and European spectators marveled at aerial acrobatics in the skies and combat capability displays on the ground during an air show and open house at Campia Turzii, July 23.

For the women and men of the Romanian Air Force's 71st Air Base and the U.S. Air Force's 194th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, the event marked a milestone in their ongoing mission to foster interoperability and strengthen the partnership between the two countries.

The aviation demonstration took place during the middle of the 194th EFS's six-monthslong theater security package deployment to Europe in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve, which aims to bolster the U.S.'s continued commitment to the collective security of NATO and its dedication to enduring peace and stability in the region.

The unit was comprised of more than 200 California Air National Guard Airmen from the 144th Fighter Wing at Fresno ANG Base, California, as well as active-duty Airmen from the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. Airmen piloted, maintained and supported the deployment of 12 F-15C Eagles throughout nations including Romania, Iceland, U.K., Netherlands and Estonia.

"It's important that our two great air forces fly and train together face to face," said Maj. Gen. Jon Kelk, the ANG mobilization assistant to the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa commander and the commander, chief of staff of the California ANG. "We can develop plans and strategies, but if the Romanian pilots are here and the U.S. pilots are here and we're not flying and training together, we're missing something. This exercise is a bilateral example for the U.S. and Romanian air forces that we are able to fly and train together face to face, and we all bring something unique and valuable to this training event."

The F-15Cs took to the skies alongside the 71st AB's MiG-21 fighter aircraft and Puma helicopters for the air show, the second engagement of its kind at Campia Turzii under OAR, and the bilateral flight training, also known as Dacian Eagle 2016.

"Dacian Eagle 2016 continued the tradition of the bilateral Romanian-American exercises conducted at the 71st AB," said Romanian Air Force Col. Marius Ouatu, the 71st AB commander. "The purpose of this exercise is increasing the level of preparedness and interoperability of the participants. The exercise is an opportunity for practicing the techniques, tactics and procedures associated with standard air operations in accordance with NATO standards through the execution of joint flights with our American partner."

Kelk added that the participation in Dacian Eagle as well as the air show happened within a broader context of transatlantic operations, and that the emphasis on training was paramount.

"We learn from each other and how to operate together and in this day and age; interoperability is key to the larger goals of the NATO alliance," the general said. "These training deployments enable us to learn the capabilities of our aircraft and their aircraft, but more importantly, how we can take those aircraft and use them together to meet our objectives."

USAFE-AFAFRICA maintains its global presence based upon the total force cooperation among the active-duty, National Guard and Air Force Reserve components.

Additionally, the National Guard State Partnership Program, which includes theater security package deployments, provides support for combatant commanders’ security cooperation objectives. The current 32 SPP relationships among the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command equal a fifth of all military-to-military activities within both theaters. USAFE-AFAFRICA leverages this interaction to promote airpower and increase interoperability with allies and partners in Europe and Africa.

Maj. Gen. Matthew Beevers, the deputy adjutant general of the California Military Department, also attended the event.
"I think what we've learned today is that American fighters and Romanian fighters can fly and train together in this environment," Beevers said. "We're here today to reassure everyone across Europe that NATO, the American Air Force and the Romanian Air Force can work together cooperatively to deliver high value and demonstrate we have a good deterrent effect across Europe to deter aggression and reassure our partners."