USAF Reapers based in Romania

On 4 January 2021, the US Air Force announced that they have based General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial systems (UAS) along with approximately ninety Airmen at the 71st Air Base in Câmpia Turzii (Romania).

It is expected that the MQ-9s will conduct Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions from Câmpia Turzii in support of US and NATO operations. The MQ-9s will commanded by the 31st Expeditionary Operations Group, Detachment 1, until the squadron is fully operational. The Reaper unit is subordinate to the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base (Italy). Earlier, the USAF deployed multiple times MQ-9s to Romania from the Poland based detachment.

It was stated that he forward and ready positioning of USAF's MQ-9s at this key strategic Romanian location reassures US allies and partners. The move sends a message to future adversaries and it shows that the USAF is able to quickly respond to any emergent threat.

In addition to exercising ISR capabilities, the MQ-9s will support Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concepts, fly freedom of manoeuvre missions and integrate with joint and coalition forces in the region. While in theatre, the MQ-9s may also participate in exercises that ensure interoperability with allied and partner nations. This deployment has been fully coordinated with the Romanian government.

Photo by USAF