As part of Mission Aigle (Eagle), France has deployed in Romania 500 personnel from the 27e Bataillon de Chasseurs Alpins (27th Alpine Hunters Battalion) from Annecy, the 126e Régiment d’Infanterie (126th Infantry Regiment) from Brive-la-Gaillarde, the 4e Régiment de Chasseurs (4th Chasseurs) from Gap and the 93e Régiment d’Artillerie de Montagne (93rd Mountain Artillery Regiment) from Varces, as well as support services. Under France leadership, they form, with the support of another 300 troops from Belgium the Spearhead Battalion of NATO Rapid Response Force in Southeastern Europe.
These units have taken their quarters in Mihail Kogalniceanu base near Constanţa, where they have been welcomed by their Romanian counterparts. The Aigle battalion has been deployed with a wide variety of combat equipment, including several armored and non-armored vehicles, many of which produced and supported by Arquus.
Among the vehicles recently deployed in Romania:
- 43 VAB
- 27 VBL
- 19 PVP
- Several GBC 180
- Several VT4
Romanian PVP's
The deployment of French units and equipment in Romania in the framework of the Nato Response Force will further increase the level of cooperation between the French and Romanian Armies, while strengthening the historical links which have always united the two countries. The future deployment of Romanian elements in the Sahel, alongside their French counterparts, also emphasizes the need for interoperability and mutual training.