Several elite troops of the U.S. Air Force have landed at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase in Romania this week, bringing with them four Black Hawk helicopters, reports local Digi24.

The helicopters were brought to Romania from Israel, the deployment being part of the U.S. commitment to strengthening security in Southeastern Europe. Each helicopter has an average value of over USD 20 million.

The American troops, which are part of the 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, were first sent to Germany, and then deployed to Romania. They will stay here until August. Their training will also include flights with Romanian pilots.

This is not the first time when Black Hawk helicopters come to Romania. In early-March this year, the Romanian and American troops participated in a joint training at the Mihail Kogalniceanu airbase in Romania. The exercise included loading maneuvers and assault operations with helicopters, including the Black Hawks.

Before that, in February, some 500 American soldiers from the “Fighting Eagles” battalion of the U.S. arrived at the Romanian airbase, bringing with them M1 Abrams tanks and M2 Bradley armored vehicles.

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Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: 10th Combat Aviation Brigade on Facebook; photo by Spc. Thomas Scaggs)