Pápa Air Base hosts distinguished visitors in conjunction with Colorado Air National Guard led Panther Strike 2016 and Operation Atlantic Resolve

Photo By John Rohrer | Dr. Simicsko Istvan, Hungarian Minister of Defense and Colleen Bell, U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, speak to American and Hungarian troops at Pápa Air Base, Hungary during Panther Strike 2016, July 27, 2016. A Hungarian Gripen and an American F-16 were both used during the multinational training event and can be seen in the background. Istvan and Bell were amongst the senior officials in attendance for distinguished visitor day, all of whom received an opportunity to tour the base, speak with individuals participating in the training mission and and see the aircraft involved. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. John Rohrer)  

PáPA AIR BASE, HUNGARY

07.27.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Michelle Alvarez 

140th Wing

The Colorado Air National Guard partnered with Hungarian Defense Forces to host an exhibition day for distinguished visitors to receive a behind-the-scenes look into the joint efforts and accomplishments resulting from Panther Strike 2016 and Operation Atlantic Resolve.

Panther Strike 2016 has included joint training exercises in locations across Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovenia and Slovakia, in what Bell called “the largest and most complicated air integration mission in the region, since the end of the Balkan operations.”

DV Day was attended by Colleen Bell, U.S. Ambassador to Hungary, Dr. István Simicskó, Defence Minister, Hungary, Brig. Gen. Patrick Wade, Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, Col. Tim Manning, Chief, Office of Defense Cooperations, U.S. Embassy, Hungary and Col. Floyd W. Dunstan, Commander, 140th Wing, Colorado Air National Guard; as well as service members from the HDF and the COANG.

While this is the first time the 140th WG has deployed to Hungary, the U.S. Air Force has a long standing relationship with the NATO ally. Recent routine training missions include: the Heavy Airlift Wing partnership, based in Pápa Air Base, a June 2015 bilateral KC-135 air refueling and a September 2015 F-15C deployment ot Kecskemét Air Base.

As part of the operation, pilots from the 120th Expeditionary Fighting Squadron, 140th WG have been in various parts of the region, conducting joint training exercises and flying missions with NATO allies in the European theater.

“As a flight training deployment, this is huge for our Wing...to come into Pápa, which is a fighter base that hasn’t been used for fighters in a long time is something that we are validating for USAFE. It is a great opportunity for us and we appreciate all the support from the Hungarians, Slovenians and of course, USAFE, to make this deployment happen.” said Dunstan.

In support of the JTAC training, the 140th WG has controllers at Vidsel Range, Hungary and Pocek Range, Slovenia, facilitating and executing daily operations with other deployed U.S. Air Force aircraft and NATO allied aircraft.

Dunstan stated, “We are working with Joint Terminal Attack Controllers and flying together for air to ground missions...air to air training will include air combat maneuvering and tactical intercepts to support their training. It is a great opportunity for our Hungarian counterparts to fight similar aircraft and we get a lot of valuable training from that too.”

Bell emphasized that “the success of this training mission demonstrates our unique capability to work together and to employ our militaries as one force even as they are based in geographically separated airfields around the region.”

This deployment and the joint, multinational training events that make up Panther Strike 2016 are the cornerstone for increasing our military combat capabilities and reinforce the ongoing commitment to NATO during an unpredictable and uncertain time.

• Date Taken: 07.27.2016
• Date Posted: 08.02.2016 12:22
• Story ID: 205805
• Location: PáPA AIR BASE, HU