Romania and Bulgaria will start in September a joint air policing exercise to practice measures against potential threat to strategic facilities from hijacked or suspicious aircrafts.

The main objective of the Blue Bridge 2014 exercise is to achieve improved coordination and interoperability between Bulgarian and Romanian Air Forces in conducting cross-border operations on air traffic control and guarding of airspace, according to a statement of the Bulgarian Ministry of Defense, cited by Novinite.

The exercise will be conducted in two phases, in September and October, and aims to also contribute to increasing the theoretical, tactical and flight preparedness of air force staff and their readiness to participate in joint operations.

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