NATO AWACS to Patrol Skies over Turkey

AWACS aircraft in flight

SHAPE Headquarters, Casteau
The Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General James L. Jones, yesterday, 20 February, ordered the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force to deploy to Turkey with their AWACS aircraft based in Geilenkirchen, Germany.

SACEUR decision follows the NATO Defence Planning Committee announcement on 19 February, “authorising the military authorities to implement, as a matter of urgency, defensive measures to assist Turkey.”

The deployment to Turkey will provide surveillance and early warning for defensive purposes, in order to maintain the integrity of Turkish airspace. The aircraft will operate out of their forward operating location, at the Turkish Air Force base in Konya.

AWACS together with Trainer Cargo Aircraft (TCA)

“As NATO’s strategic military advisor, SACEUR has recommended to the Chairman of the NATO Military Committee that the AWACS and their crews would be a visible and highly effective defensive capability in the event that Turkey was threatened,” said Major General Dora, Force Commander of the NATO AWACS fleet.

The first NATO aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Turkey to support this mission early next week and they will be flying missions in defence of Turkish air space by 27 Feb. 03.

Additional Information

• About AWACS (NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force E-3A Component Website)
  • Press Release: Media Availability Information for NATO AWACS Deployment to Turkey /21 Feb. 2003 (.DOC/88Kb)
  • NATO Multimedia : High resolution photos of AWACS aircrafts