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NATO is transferring several of its reconnaissance aircraft, currently based in Germany, to Romania, where they will be closer to the war Russia has launched against Ukraine, DPA reported.

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AWACS reconnaissance aircraft are due to arrive in Bucharest on Tuesday "to support the Alliance's enhanced presence in the region and to monitor Russian military activity," NATO said in a statement today.

The AUAX aircraft, which are normally based near Aachen in western Germany, will be stationed at Romania's Otopeni air base near Bucharest, about 200 kilometers from the EU and NATO member's eastern border with Ukraine, and will remain there for several weeks. 

"As Russia's illegal war in Ukraine continues to threaten peace and security in Europe, there should be no doubting NATO's determination to protect and defend every inch of allied territory," NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu said.

"Our AWACS aircraft can detect aircraft hundreds of kilometers away, making them key to NATO's deterrence and defense posture. I thank Romania for hosting the aircraft, which is an important contribution to our early warning," she added .

About 180 military personnel will also be transferred to the Otopeni base.

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NATO did not specify how many of the 14 AWACS aircraft currently based in Germany will be sent to Romania, but military sources said three aircraft will be deployed to the Eastern European country, DPA said.

The mushroom-shaped AUAKS radars can detect and identify other aircraft at a distance of more than 400 kilometers.

The planes can relay the information to everyone else in the airspace who are equipped accordingly, meaning they can theoretically be used as flying command posts.

In the past, they were used during operations against the terrorist group "Islamic State" or in Afghanistan, notes BTA.

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