Three Dutch MQ-9 Reaper unmanned reconnaissance aircraft to arrive to Romania next year

Three MQ-9 Reaper unmanned reconnaissance aerial vehicles from the Royal Netherlands Army will arrive to Romania next year and will operate for a period of six to 12 months from the 71st Air Base in Campia Turzii.

They will be used at Campia Turzii by about 40 Dutch specialists, says a National Defence Ministry (MApN) press release.

"This decision, made as a first by the Netherlands, aims to strengthen the defence of NATO's eastern flank, and the aircraft will have the mission to collect, for preventive purposes, data and information to monitor the situation along the eastern border of the Alliance territory," the MApN said.

The deployment of the three aircraft is part of the "political and military efforts undertaken at the allied and national level in support of the strengthening of the collective defence posture in the Black Sea region, materialised in a substantial increase in the allied presence on the eastern flank, including in Romania," the source said.

Substantial contributions of allied troops on the national territory "demonstrate, once again, allied unity and cohesion and prove the credibility of the deterrence and defence posture," the MApN underlines, recalling that Romania has, in turn, a substantial contribution of troops and capabilities in NATO and EU missions and operations