From 2014 the Air Policing missions was also established in the eastern
European NATO countries Bulgaria and Romania. The Royal Canadian Air
Force was the first to start the AP rotation with its CF-188 Hornets
taking up residence in Romania from May 2014.
The Bulgarian Air Base Graf Ignatievo is also host to the USAF ANG F-15
Expeditionary Fighter Squadrons deploying to Europe under the European
Reassurance Initiative (ERI) / Operation Atlantic Resolve (OAR). In
2015, 2016 and 2017 these EFS composed of two ANG F-15 squadrons started
their deployment at Leeuwarden Air Base, Netherlands taking part in
exercise Frisian Flag. The normal ERI / OAR deployment last six months
(March - September) with so-called mini deployments made to other NATO
countries in eastern Europe.
The first ERI / OAR was conducted by the 354 EFS (354th FS based at
Davis-Monthan, Arizona) arriving at Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany in
February 2015. |
