The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) released images of intercept and escort Russian military aircraft flying near Romanian airspace over the Black Sea.

According to the CAF’s statement, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CF-188 Hornets, working with the Romanian Air Force as part of the NATO enhanced Air Policing, intercepted a Russian Su-27 Flanker aircraft that was operating near Romanian airspace over the Black Sea.

When the Russian aircraft was detected by the Control and Reporting Centre of the Romanian Air Force, RCAF Hornets were scrambled by NATO’s southern Combined Air Operations Centre at Torrejon, Spain.

“The Russian aircraft was closely monitored by our Hornets before it left the Romanian flight information region. Bravo Zulu to all involved,” -also said un the CAF’s statement.

The RCAF first deployed an air task force to Romania in April 2014 as part of NATO’s response to the Russian annexation of Crimea and military activity along the border of eastern Ukraine. The mission began as bilateral air-to-air training for the Hornet aircrews and Romania’s MiG21 Lancers, focused on air defense, air superiority and tactical support, but it grew into joint bilateral air-to-ground training.

The Canadian Armed Forces has members serving on Operation REASSURANCE in Central and Eastern Europe. They are there as part of NATO assurance and deterrence measures. These measures aim to reinforce NATO’s collective defense. It also shows the strength of Allied solidarity.

During this operation, the CAF is conducting training, exercises, and some NATO-specific tasks.

The CAF support to NATO helps make Central and Eastern Europe more secure and stable.