Mission Aigle
{{Short description|French-led military mission to Romania}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name = Mission Aigle
| native_name = Mission Aigle
| image = Mission Aigle badge 2025.svg
| caption = Badge of Mission Aigle
| dates = 28 February 2022 – present
| allegiance = NATO
| branch =
| type = Army
| role =
| size = 1,500+
| command_structure = NATO Enhanced Forward Presence
| garrison =
| garrison_label =
| anniversaries =
| equipment =
}}
The Mission Aigle is a French-led military mission deployed to Romania following the activation of the Graduated Response Plans by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe as a response to the Russian Invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Following this decision, France sent troops to Romania on 28 February 2022 in order to strengthen the Alliance's deterrent and defensive posture against Russia.{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2022|p=3}}
History
File:Premiers tirs des chars Leclerc lors de l’exercice EAGLE ZORI.jpg and Romanian Piranha V at the Cincu military camp]]
On 28 February 2022, France deployed a spearhead battalion of the rapid response force to Romania.{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2022|p=3}} On 1 May 2022, the multinational battalion constituted the Battle Group Forward Presence (BGFP) in Romania, with France as the lead nation.{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2022|p=10}} For the first time, France assumed the role of leading nation in a NATO reassurance mission.{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2022|p=5}} The BGFP is a multinational battalion tasked with reinforcing the operational capabilities of the deployed troops.{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2022|p=10}} Currently, the Multinational Battlegroup is under the command of the Multinational Division South-East based in Bucharest.{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2025|p=7–8}}
To house the battlegroup, a new military base was constructed in Cincu. The base consists of hangars, ammunition depots, as well as, auxiliary buildings for civilian purposes. The military town was constructed by a multinational detachment of engineers, and the costs were covered by France and Romania with construction materials acquired from Romania.{{cite web|url=https://www.defenseromania.ro/lupta-contra-cronometru-francezii-ridica-in-timp-record-o-baza-militara-oras-la-cincu-proiect-comun-intre-romania-si-franta_617169.html|title=Luptă contra cronometru: Francezii ridică în timp record o bază militară - oraș la Cincu. Proiect comun între România și Franța|author=Tudor Curtifan|language=ro|work=DefenseRomania|date=8 July 2022}} It was reported in November that the French soldiers were living in "deplorable" conditions with insufficient food, poor hygiene, and bad heating.{{cite web|url=https://frenchdailynews.com/politics/5519-french-soldiers-in-romania-are-hungry-and-cold|title=French soldiers in Romania are "hungry" and "cold"|author=Emilien Lacombe|website=frenchdailynews.com|date=4 November 2022}} These reports were dismissed by the French embassy in Romania as no formal complaints regarding the conditions at the base were received. While living conditions were rudimentary during the construction works, these improved significantly once the base was completed.{{cite web|url=https://www.defenseromania.ro/ambasada-frantei--nicio-plangere-formala-privind-conditiile-din-baza-cincu-formulata-de-militarii-francezi_619324.html|title=Ambasada Franței în România: Nu am primit nicio plângere formală privind condiţiile din baza Cincu din partea militarilor francezi|language=ro|work=DefenseRomania|date=8 November 2022}} The soldiers have access to hot water, electricity, internet connection and live in small heated rooms in groups of three or four.{{cite web|url=https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/bourgogne-franche-comte/territoire-de-belfort/belfort/armee-au-coeur-de-la-mission-aigle-en-roumanie-avec-le-1er-regiment-d-artillerie-de-belfort-2742150.html|title=VIDÉOS. Au coeur de la mission AIGLE en Roumanie avec le 1er régiment d'artillerie de Belfort|language=fr|author=Emilien Diaz|work=France 3 Bourgogne|date=28 March 2023}}
On 18 October, French Leclercs of the 7th Armored Brigade departed for Romania.{{cite web|url=https://www.lefigaro.fr/international/ukraine-depart-de-blindes-francais-vers-la-roumanie-20221018|title=Ukraine: départ de blindés français vers la Roumanie|language=fr|work=Le Figaro|date=18 October 2022}} The tanks arrived in Voila on 16 November.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-defense-25907175-foto-tancurile-franceze-leclerc-ajuns-romania-alatura-grupului-lupta-nato-cincu.htm|title=FOTO Tancurile franceze Leclerc au ajuns în România și se alătură Grupului de Luptă NATO de la Cincu|language=ro|work=HotNews|date=16 November 2022}} On 6 December, the tanks took part in the first live fire exercise at the Cincu Training Center during exercise Eagle Zori.{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/actualites/aigle-premiers-tirs-chars-leclerc-lors-lexercice-eagle-zori|title=AIGLE – Premiers tirs des chars Leclerc lors de l'exercice EAGLE ZORI|language=fr|work=Ministère des Armées|date=15 December 2022}}
In 2025, the Multinational Battlegroup will increase its size to a brigade level. The number of soldiers will reach 4,000 with the brigade being ready for the Dacian Spring exercise, around May 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.romania-actualitati.ro/news-in-english/nato-battle-group-in-cincu-to-be-upgraded-to-brigade-level-in-2025-id189514.html|title=NATO Battle Group in Cincu to be upgraded to brigade level in 2025|work=Radio România Actualități|author=Florin Lepădatu|date=29 February 2024}}
=Name and symbol=
Aigle means "Eagle" in French. It was chosen as a reference to the Romanian coat of arms.{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2022|p=7}} The sword evokes the immediate operational nature of the deployed force. The 4-point compass star, the symbol of NATO, recalls the framework of France's commitment in Romania. The flags illustrate the host country and the allied countries included in the multinational battalion.{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2025|p=6}}
Strength
File:MAMBA system in Romania.jpg system in Romania]]
As of January 2025, the multinational force in Romania is made up of more than 1,500 soldiers, organized in the following units:{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2025|p=7–8}}
- Multinational Battlegroup in Cincu and Mihail Kogalniceanu
- Medium-range surface-to-air defence detachment (Détachement sol-air moyenne portée - SAMP) MAMBA, in Capu Midia (100 soldiers)
- National support echelon (Échelon de soutien national - ESN), in Cincu and Mihail Kogalniceanu ({{circa|460}} soldiers)
- Senior National Representative (SNR) and the Brigade Forward Command Element (BFCE) in Bucharest ({{circa|40}} soldiers)
Participating in the mission are forces from France, Belgium and the Netherlands.{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2022|p=7}} From 21 March 2023, Luxembourg also joined the Aigle mission.{{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/operations/actualites/aigle-ceremonie-dintegration-section-luxembourgeoise|title=AIGLE – Cérémonie d'intégration de la section luxembourgeoise|language=fr|work=Ministère des Armées|date=24 March 2023}} In December 2024, Spain joined the mission with a Marine Infantry company.{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2025|p=9}}{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1008268587996330&id=100064395954089&_rdr|title=Spain is the latest Ally that joined NATO Battlegroup in Romania|website=Facebook|publisher=Headquarters Multinational Division South East: HQ MNDSE|date=13 December 2024}}
=Multinational Battlegroup=
The Multinational Battlegroup consists of more than 1,500 soldiers, of which 300 Belgian, 30 Luxembourgish and 200 Spanish soldiers and is commanded by Colonel Thierry Denechaud.{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2025|p=9}} The French troops are headquartered at Camp Général Berthelot, formerly "Cherry Hill", named in honor of General Henri Mathias Berthelot. The battlegroup is equipped with the following:{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2025|p=9}}{{cite web|url=https://uzpr.ro/26/06/2024/tabara-militara-franceza-de-la-cincu-devine-camp-general-berthelot/|title=Tabăra militară franceză de la Cincu devine "Camp Général Berthelot"|language=ro|website=uzpr.ro|date=26 June 2024}}
=MAMBA system=
From 6 May, at the request of the Romanian authorities and NATO, the French forces deployed the MAMBA ground-to-air defence system at the Capu Midia base. The system is composed of several interconnected modules. Each launch unit can salvo fire up to eight ASTER 30 missiles. To increase the efficiency, the system is connected and integrated via a tactical data link to the Romanian, and NATO defense systems, which command it. Following a test phase, the MAMBA system was certified and is now fully integrated in the NATO Integrated Air Missile Defence (IAMD).{{sfn|Ministère des Armées|2022|pp=12, 13}}
Gallery
File:Combined arms training during the EAGLE VITEAZUL exercise.jpg|T-55 tanks of the Romanian 814th tank battalion and French Leclercs in Turda
File:EAGLE ROYAL exercise HIMARS firing.jpg|Romanian HIMARS and a French LRU firing during exercise Eagle Royal at Capu Midia
File:Exercise EAGLE BLACK.jpg|Combined training for Romanian, Portuguese and French soldiers, exercise Eagle Black
File:Caesar artillery system at Capu Midia, 2023.jpg|CAESAR artillery system
File:Leclerc tank firing, Cincu training camp.jpg|Leclerc tank firing during exercise Eagle Fulger
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
Bibliography
- {{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/operations/20220809_AIGLE_DOSSIER_DE_PRESSE_EN.pdf|title=Press Kit - Mission AIGLE|publisher=Ministère des Armées|date=August 2022|ref={{harvid|Ministère des Armées|2022}}}}
- {{cite web|url=https://www.defense.gouv.fr/sites/default/files/operations/_%20FR.pdf|title=Press Kit - French-led NATO multinational battlegroup in Romania|language=fr|publisher=Ministère des Armées|date=February 2025|ref={{harvid|Ministère des Armées|2025}}}}
External links
- [https://twitter.com/NATOBGRomania Official account of the French Forces in Romania on Twitter]
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