Operation REASSURANCE 2021
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) CF-188 Hornets started their four-month mission in support to Operation REASSURANCE to Mihail Kogalniceau air base (Romania). Also known as Air Task Force (ATF) Romania, this is the sixth deployment to Romania. The other deployments were in 2014 and from 2017 each consecutive year.
On 26 August 2021, four CF-188 from 409 Tactical Fighter Squadron Night Hawk based at CFB Cold Lake/Group Captain R.W. McNair (Alt.) arrived at Prestwick (UK) for a night stop. The four aircraft, serials 188743, 188749, 188774 (425sq mks) and 188795 were accompanied by CC-150 Polaris 15005.
On 27 August, the CC-150 left with two Hornets (188749 and 188774) departed to Mihail Kogalniceau air base. That same day, the Polaris returned and departed for Gander, Newfoundland to pick up two more Hornets. These two, CF-188 188784 and CF-188B 188932, arrived at Prestwick on Saturday evening 28 August 2021. The contingent is planned to leave on Sunday 29 August.
Going back to the spring of 2014, following events in Eastern Europe, NATO agreed upon and began to enact a series of military measures to reinforce NATO’s collective defence and demonstrate the strength of the alliance. Canada offered assets and members, showing its strong commitment to the alliance; Operation REASSURANCE was born. The enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission conducted alerts, training, exercises and demonstrations under NATO rules and regulations to strengthen the defence of Eastern Europe.
Photos by Ian Lane