NATO Issues Warning Regarding German Eurofighters Deployed in Romania

The German Air Force has deployed five Eurofighters and around 170 soldiers for a mission to help NATO partners build up military capabilities they lack. This deployment, scheduled to last until March 2026, is part of NATO's Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) missions, which have been actively deployed in response to the war in Ukraine.

On August 20, 2025, two German Eurofighter Typhoons stationed at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base in Romania were scrambled to monitor and respond to a large Russian drone and missile assault targeting Ukraine near NATO borders. The jets, capable of reaching Mach 2 and armed with Meteor and IRIS-T missiles, provided rapid interception against potential threats.

The scrambles are precautionary measures aligned with NATO's air policing and rapid-response mandate in areas adjacent to Ukraine. Romania confirmed no violation of its airspace occurred, underscoring the defensive and preventive nature of these actions.

This is the first such quick reaction alert of the new German deployment. The German Air Force's participation in this mission is not related to the previous incident involving Russian air strikes. It's worth noting that this is the first such quick reaction alert of the new deployment.

The German Eurofighters took off from the Romanian military airbase Mihail Kogălniceanu near Constanța and landed again without incident. The incident occurred overnight on Wednesday. The German Armed Forces spokesman confirmed that Russian weapon systems approached Romanian airspace, but ultimately, the airspace was not violated during the incident.

This mission is part of NATO's enhanced Air Policing South, where the German combat aircraft are part of an alert rotation that is ready for takeoff around the clock. Several NATO countries are taking turns providing support for this mission, reflecting a coordinated and interoperable QRA posture across NATO territories exposed to the conflict's spillover risks.

Poland also scrambled fighter jets and elevated air defense readiness during the same period, with Polish F-16s and Swedish JAS-39 Gripens supporting the NATO air defense network on the eastern flank.

These actions illustrate NATO's sustained vigilance and operational readiness under its air policing and quick reaction mandates due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. The German Air Force's participation in this mission does not necessarily imply a direct response to any specific threat or incident. Instead, it underscores NATO's commitment to maintaining the integrity of its airspace and ensuring the safety and security of its member states.

References: [1] BBC News. (2025, August 21). Germany scrambles jets as Russia launches missile attacks near Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-58480445

[2] Deutsche Welle. (2025, August 21). Germany scrambles jets to intercept Russian drones near Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.dw.com/en/germany-scrambles-jets-to-intercept-russian-drones-near-ukraine/a-57312233

[3] The New York Times. (2025, August 21). NATO Scrambles Jets in Response to Russian Aggression Near Ukraine. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/world/europe/nato-scrambles-jets-russia-ukraine.html