NATO AWACS to fly surveillance missions over Romania and Poland

Courtesy Photo | An E-3A aircraft takes-off from NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen.  

GEILENKIRCHEN, NW, GERMANY

03.11.2014

Story by Staff Sgt. Richard Longoria 

NATO E-3A Component

GEILENKIRCHEN, Germany - The North Atlantic Council decided March 10, 2014 to employ NATO AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control Aircraft) surveillance aircraft over Poland and Romania.

“The NAC decision is a clear indication of the relevance of the E-3A Component in our times,” said Col. Rene Moerland, component deputy commander.

This employment will enhance situational awareness over what is happening in the region, including in Ukraine, and reassure NATO allies in the region. All AWACS surveillance flights will take place solely over alliance territory and no flights will take place over Ukraine.

Operating solely from its main operating base, the component will fly a line of tasking every day to Romania and a line of tasking every other day Poland. These surveillance missions will be shared with the E-3D Component, who will fly out of Waddington, U.K.

"NATO AWACS is a high readiness force which can be employed at very short notice,” Col. Moerland said. “We expect the first flight in the coming days.”

The deputy commander explained that is up to the discretion of NATO's military commanders, notably the Supreme Allied Commander and NATO Air Command based in Ramstein, Germany, to decide on when to start mission flights.

“We are working with the other organizations involved on the mission details as well as the operation and execution order, which can be expected very soon,” Col. Moerland added. “Once received, we will start executing the missions as ordered.”

By coincidence, the component had already scheduled routine missions to Romania and Poland on the schedule for March 11 and 12.

“Until directed otherwise, these missions will be executed as originally planned under our normal procedures,” Col. Moerland clarified.

• Date Taken: 03.11.2014
• Date Posted: 03.11.2014 06:03
• Story ID: 121814
• Location: GEILENKIRCHEN, NW, DE