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MONS, Belgium - The NATO
Airborne Early Warning and Control (NAEW&C) Force, based in Geilenkirchen,
Germany, marked an important milestone on Wednesday, Oct. 5,
when it flew its 1000th flight in support of NATO Assurance
Measures over the Alliance's eastern flank.
"As a unique military tool we have
sent a very strong signal of NATO's presence and reliability, especially to
Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Romania," said NATO E-3A Component
Commander, Brigadier General Karsten Stoye. "Despite future missions in the south,
we will be a consistent partner for these countries. We will go on with our
surveillance flights and we will be constantly present," he added.
On Mar. 10, 2014, the North Atlantic
Council (NAC), in response to the situation in Ukraine and Crimea, implemented
a range of measures to demonstrate Alliance resolve. Three days later, on
Mar. 13, the first Assurance Measures flight took off from
Geilenkirchen.
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Brigadier General, Karsten Stoye, Component Commander NATO E-3A Component conducts flight operations during the 1000th NATO Assurance Measures Flight, Oct. 5. The E-3A Component is NATO's first integrated, multi-national flying unit, providing rapid deployability, airborne surveillance, command, control and communication for NATO operations. (NATO photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Danielle Brandt - USN) |
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"NATO Airborne Early Warning
and Control System aircraft are a vital element of the NATO Assurance Measures.
The NATO E-3A AWACS provides the Alliance with an immediately available
airborne command and control, air and maritime surveillance and battle-space
management capability in support of our Alliance's deterrence mission,"
said General Curtis M. Scaparrotti, Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Assurance Measures sorties are
flown to conduct air surveillance, enhance NATO's situational awareness and to
provide assurance to nations on NATO's Eastern Flank.
In February, a combination of AWACS flights conducted by the
U.K., France and Turkey as well as the NATO E-3A Component completed 1,000
Assurance Measures flights. This latest flight marked the 1,000th
for the E-3A Component itself.
Story by NATO E-3A Component
and SHAPE Public Affairs Offices
To learn more about NATO's E-3A Component, visit their
website at www.e3a.nato.int |