Spanish NH90 Helicopters Conduct First Alpha Scramble in Romania Against Drone Threat

Two NH90 helicopters were launched after unidentified drones were detected near Romania’s Black Sea coast, marking the first Alpha Scramble of a Spanish helicopter deployed on a NATO mission.

Two Spanish NH90 helicopters deployed to Romania have conducted their first Alpha Scramble after unidentified drones were detected on the Black Sea coast. The NH90s are part of Spain’s contribution to the Block 72 of NATO’s enhanced Air Policing (eAP) mission.

The helicopters, assigned to the Spanish Tactical Air Detachment (DAT) ‘Paznic’, were activated from Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base, near Constanța, on Nov. 5, 2026. However, Spain’s Defence Staff (EMAD) said the drones disappeared before the crews could arrive on scene, and the helicopters returned to base without engaging the targets.

First helicopter scramble

On 5 November, two Spanish NH-90 helicopters conducted their first Alpha Scramble under NATO Air Defence, following the detection of unidentified drones in Romania

https://t.co/JIMMywFGMD https://t.co/Rl0HloGkkT

— NATO Air Command (@NATO_AIRCOM) November 9, 2026

According to the EMAD, this was the first Alpha Scramble involving a Spanish helicopter deployed on an international NATO mission. The activation is particularly significant as it demonstrates how helicopters are being incorporated into the Alliance’s increasingly integrated approach to air defense, addressing the full spectrum of modern threats.

Expanding the air-defense response against drones

The Spanish NH90s are part of the DAT ‘Paznic’, deployed at Mihail Kogălniceanu Air Base as part of NATO’s IAMD (Integrated Air and Missile Defense) ‘Persistent Effort’ operation. The Spanish contingent operates both EF-18M Hornet fighters (Spain doesn’t use the F/A-18 designation) and NH90 helicopters, contributing to the protection of Allied airspace in the Black Sea region.

Primer Alpha Scramble de los helicópteros NH-90 del #DATPaznic en Rumanía.

Se trata de una salida real de alerta rápida ante la detección de unos drones no identificados.

La integración operativa de los NH90 amplía la capacidad de respuesta y vigilancia de la Alianza frente a amenazas en la zona.

Refuerza la cobertura de seguridad en todo el flanco este de la OTAN y demuestra el elevado nivel de preparación del destacamento español.

#MOPS @EjercitoAire @NATO_AIRCOM

— Estado Mayor Defensa (@EMADmde) November 6, 2026

The deployment reportedly includes three NH90 helicopters from Ala 48 and seven F-18M fighters from Ala 12, alongside approximately 200 personnel, according to Spanish and Romanian authorities. For two months, an A400M was also deployed in support of the Spanish contingent to provide air-to-air refueling capabilities.

“In this context, the NH-90 helicopters provide a complementary capability. They do not replace the F/A18s; they complement them,” said Lt. Col. Alberto B. Calvo López, commander of the Paznic Detachment. “While fighter aircraft offer speed, range, powerful sensors and an immediate response capability against certain threats, helicopters can provide flexibility in other mission profiles, particularly when dealing with low-altitude, low-speed or less conventional threats.”

The distinction is particularly relevant in the context of the growing use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) observed around NATO’s eastern flank. Small drones can present detection and interception challenges, especially when operating close to the ground or against a cluttered background.

A Spanish Air and Space Force NH90 helicopter. | Source: Airbus Additionally, their relatively low speed can make them complex targets for fast jets, which would be forced to operate near stall speed (and might still be too fast compared to the drone). The integration of helicopters into the air-defense architecture provides another option for responding to these threats, as they can more comfortably operate at these speeds and altitudes that would be less suitable for fighter aircraft.

According to the EMAD, the Spanish contingent had so far completed 37 Alpha Scramble sorties. Among these is the Aug. 16, 2026, scramble that led to an EF-18M shooting down a drone that entered Romanian airspace near the Danube river delta.

Helicopters in Quick Reaction Alert missions

The use of helicopters in air-defense missions is not new. Several NATO air forces already employ rotary-wing aircraft to support Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) operations, particularly in scenarios involving slow-moving aircraft.

The Italian Air Force, for instance, regularly trains with HH-139 helicopters alongside Eurofighter F-2000A Typhoons (Italian MoD’s designation for the jet) for Slow Mover Intercept (SMI) missions. These scenarios involve intercepting aircraft flying at low speeds and altitudes, including general aviation aircraft and ultralights, which can be challenging for fast jets to intercept safely.

A HH-139 helicopter and a F-2000 fighter jet fly in formation beside the target U-208 utility aircraft during a Slow Mover Intercept (SMI) training scenario. | Source: Stefano D'Urso/The Aviationist As we previously reported here at The Aviationist when we took part in an SMI exercise at Gioia del Colle Air Base in 2022, helicopters can take over once fighters have located and initially identified a target. Their ability to fly at lower speeds allows them to shadow the aircraft, maintain visual contact and, if necessary, communicate instructions to its pilots.

The helicopters can also use electro-optical and infrared sensors to assist with visual identification. If radio communications cannot be established, crew members can display visual instruction panels, including messages ordering the aircraft to follow the interceptors or contact the international emergency frequency.

Kinetic capabilities can also be embarked on the helicopter in the event an armed response might be required. These capabilities can be provided either by crew-served weapons (such as the M3M .50 cal heavy machine gun used by the Spanish helicopters in the photos of the Alpha Scramble) or Slow Mover Interceptor Operators (SMIO) trained in the use of precision weapons (both marksman and sniper rifles) from aerial platforms.

Although the target in the training mission we took part in was a conventional slow-moving aircraft, the underlying operational protocol can also be applied to unmanned threats, or any aerial targets that do not necessarily fit the traditional fighter-interception profile.