NATO’s Airborne Warning and Control (AWACS) aircraft played a pivotal role in providing command and control for Allied air forces in the Baltic Sea region.
NATO AWACS, stationed at Geilenkirchen, Germany, establish a recognised air picture and deliver it to Allied forces across air, sea, and ground, strengthening joint and combined interoperability, according to Major Christian Brett, spokesperson of the NATO Airborne Warning and Control Force.
Major Brett explained that, “Besides that, our planes can serve as ‘flying command posts’ coordinating aerial training activities of Allied aircraft virtually in any airspace.”
The aircraft, a modified Boeing 707, is equipped with long-range radar and passive sensors, enabling the detection of potential threats such as aircraft, missiles, and drones over a distance of 400 km.
These capabilities, alongside the intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance provided by the multinational specialist staff onboard, have rendered these planes a crucial asset for NATO operations.
NATO AWACS “regularly provide Allies with a recognised air picture ensuring decision makers have the best information possible making the planes a critical capability,” according to NATO’s official release.
The utilisation of AWACS has seen a surge following the onset of Russia’s unprovoked war in Ukraine. NATO has increased its presence in Eastern Europe and the Baltic Sea region, deploying more fighter aircraft, tankers, and surveillance aircraft. Regular patrols conducted by AWACS in the region track air movements near NATO borders, contributing to the security, deterrence, and defence along the eastern flank.
Can we have both km & miles please?
The RAAF will deploy an E7 Wedgetail and 100 support personnel to Germany for 6 months from October this year to assist in monitoring military and humanitarian flights into Ukrainian airspace. The RAAF E7s have deployed globally in the past to Japan, Guam, Nevada (for Red Flag), Alaska and in combat operations in the Middle East over Syria and Iraq, but this is the E7s first operational deployment to Europe. The announcement was made by the Australian PM on a visit to Germany where it was also announced that Australia would manufacture 100 Boxer vehicles for export to Germany. German… Read more »
What if the RuAF specifically targets and even shoots down the RAAF E-7A. Australia is not in NATO, and ANZUS does not have an equivalent ‘Article 5’ provision.
My understanding is that it will not actually be flying in Ukranian airspace – it will be in NATO airspace probably over Poland or Romania. Given that the E7 MESA radar has a range of up to 600 km it can cover most of the Ukraine without having to overfly the country. It would require a very long range penetration of a RuAF aircraft to target it – something the Russians haven’t really proven cable of or at least willing to risk aircraft that deep into Ukraine or perhaps having to cross into NATO airspace. If that were the case,… Read more »
The risk is much higher than downing any NATO aircraft as it would not result in a guaranteed response or escalation. Certainly provides the opportunity for Russia to score a political point.
Yeah, Nah Interesting to see if/when/how Article 5 would be invoked if say for example a RAF C17 was shot down by the RuAF? What exactly would NATO do? An all out attack on Russia that might lead to a nuclear exchange? A ‘proportional’ response – shoot down one aircraft (tit for tat) or attack one RuAF base? Or more sanctions or force posturing? There is an interesting Yes Minister episode where a policy expert is poses a similar (though more high stakes) dilemma,. At what point would Jim Hacker go nuclear to invoke the MAD doctrine and use Trident… Read more »
Plus it won’t be flying on its own. There will be a CAP pair up supporting it. The biggest threat I think would be coming from the Wagner Group in Belarus. As a mercenary force they are not a state force. So any incursions over a border, would “officially” not come under Article 5. Though the host Country would severely get it in the ear diplomatically, especially if they block any repercussions. Which may lead to something more kinetically ala Afghan. The big worry for me is if Wagner get hold of an S300 or worse an S400 and site… Read more »
I think the response would be the same as if it was a nato aircraft. One aircraft getting shot down will not suddenly turn into a massive land invasion of Russia, nato aircraft or friendly aircraft. The response would be measured most likely taking out the offending aircraft, missile system and perhaps other systems closest to nato borders in Ukraine. Nato doesn’t want to escalate into war but will not stand by if Russia shoots multiple aircraft down without provocation. Russia shouldn’t be so stupid to shoot down multiple aircraft. 1 can be blamed on pilot acting alone etc. More… Read more »
More good news
“NATO has established a coalition of 10 European member and soon-to-be member states to train Ukrainian pilots and maintainers to operate the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon and potentially other combat aircraft types.
Announced at the 2023 NATO Vilnius Summit in Lithuania, the coalition comprises NATO members Belgium, Denmark, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and the United Kingdom, with soon-to-be member state Sweden also included.”
https://compote.slate.com/images/181a6a01-c1a8-4f9a-87e3-880585cb0e95.jpeg
Good news. Will take a while and I’m not sure it’s going to make a big difference to Ukraine’s situation. They do need to replace the Soviet era aircraft in the future so it’s a good starting point. Perhaps in the future we may see a gripen order if the conflict calms down.
Gripen would be the ideal solution for Ukraine.
“The Gripen could take off and land in less than 600 meters (2,000 feet). Once deployed to a road base, the Gripens would be serviced by a ground crew of six, including one highly trained specialist and five minimally trained conscripts. A service team could refuel and re-arm a Gripen A in ten minutes.”
LINK
Just out of curiosity, what is the UK’s contribution to the aerial early warning portion of NATO for the last few years?
I believe we are participants in the NAEW&CF programme:
https://awacs.nato.int/organisation/participating-nations
No need, as the Europeans went for a joint force we went with a national capability! But that’s easy to find out if you didn’t use such a sad anti/UK agenda and a chip on your shoulder! Remember your posts when you were pretended and arguing you were from the UK! Ha ha ha how sad.