After Deveselu and Mihail Kogălniceanu, some time ago, the 3rd US military base in Romania was operating at Câmpia Turzii. Currently, at Air Force Base 71 “General Emmanuel UNESCO” from Kambia Tourzi, Cluj County, there is a detachment consisting of the MQ-9 Reaper unmanned combat aircraft and about 90 soldiers belonging to the United States Air Force.
This is not the first time that the US military has brought drones or combat aircraft into Cluj County, but this time the Yankees ‘landing’ appears to have a lasting character. “This is the third time that the MQ-9 Reaper has been deployed in Romania, but more importantly it is part of a long history of deployment of the United States Air Force here. Since Romania joined NATO in 2004, this has been the twelfth deployment of the Air Force. American in the Plain of Turzii. We hope this deployment is the beginning of a permanent US Air Force presence in Romania. Our advanced presence in Europe and the cooperation between the US and Romanian armies are indispensable, which creates interoperability, mutual trust and expertise. Advanced presence is the cornerstone of our ability to defend our allies, respond to threats, provide assistance in global operations, and remind our enemies, now and in the future, that we are united. The United States is committed to NATO, to the security of the Black Sea region, and to the promotion of a safe, free, democratic, stable, and prosperous Romania. We are also committed to supporting and building a more capable Romanian army, ” Recently announced, at a ceremony in Câmpia Turzii, David Muniz, in charge of business at the U.S. Embassy in Bucharest.
Air component
Former SRI Director Costin Georgescu considers the Pentagon’s decision to come somewhat naturally in the context of the tensions recorded in the Black Sea region. “After 2014, Crimea has practically become a huge Russian military base on the Black Sea, and Moscow is raising its voice more and more. Then we have Turkey that is unpredictable, which is a member of NATO, but often does not behave this way. It has fairly normal ties with Russia, Romania remains the NATO base in the Black Sea region… We are a strategic point.
After 2014, the Crimea has become practically a huge Russian military base on the Black Sea
Kostin Georgesko
Former Director of SRI
In fact, we already had a large number of American soldiers in Romania, in Coglencino and Devsillo. But they were on the ground, ballistic and flying components. Now, in the plain, the American Turks also come with the combat aviation aspect. The framework is somewhat complete if we consider that the naval component is being discovered periodically in the region through the arrival of American Arleigh Burke class destroyers in the Black Sea. However, the deployment of unmanned aircraft to combat aircraft in Câmpia Turzii was not accidental, as the US side prepared in advance, ”Kosten Georgesco said.
Huge investment
According to military sources, investment in al-Qaeda in the Tourzi Plain aims to discourage Russia, which is the most important thing that the US military has done in a foreign country, from 2014 until now. The American side is investing in Base 71 on several lines, but the main investment trunk ($ 68 million) is used to build warehouses with unprecedented equipment and materials, erect hangars for fighters and equip the base with vehicles and supplies.
The American presence is increasing
To date, the US military has mainly used Mihail Kogniclniceanu Air Base in Constanta County, where it has deployed a reinforced battalion-level combat group of nearly 1,000 soldiers, with shields and helicopters, and the Deveselu base (200 soldiers serving against the missile system (Aegis Ashore), but Since last year, the Pentagon has increasingly turned its attention to the base in the Câmpia Turzii; however, over time, the Americans have operated MQ-9 Reaper drones here, as well as the F-15 Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, or F-22 aircraft. Raptor or A-10 Thunderbolt-Warthog.
Fear of them MQ-9 Reaper
The MQ-9 Reaper UAVs now operating in Câmpia Turzii are similar to those used to eliminate Iranian General Soleimani. This type of unmanned aircraft is guided from the ground by a crew of two operators, has a range of 14 hours, has a top speed of less than 500 kilometers per hour and a range of 1,850 kilometers. It has two radars, one of which specializes in the marine environment, and can be armed with a wide range of missiles or laser-guided bombs. For example, the MQ-9 Reaper can search for and attack ground targets with AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles.
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