Multimedia High resolution photos

Aircraft and personnel from NATO’s Airborne Early Warning and Control Programme (NAEW&C) made visits to Prague and Ostrava, Czech Republic from 17 to 20 September to give top political leaders and the public an opportunity to get an up close look the E-3A AWACS aircraft and learn about the capabilities that the NATO AWACS fleet provides to the Alliance.  The visit was part of ongoing negotiations between NAEW&C Programme officials and the Czech government regarding Czech membership to the NATO AWACS programme in 2010.

For the Prague visit on 17 and 18 September, two E-3A AWACS were used to provide both aircraft tours and a demonstration flight for government officials, to include Czech Defence Minister Vlasta Parkanova and Ivan Dvorak, the director of defence policy and strategy. Leaders from the NAEW&C Programme, to include Maj. Gen. Axel Tuettelmann, Brig. Gen. Stephen Schmidt and Brig. Gen. Berndt Glowacki, briefed the Czech dignitaries about the Air Battle Management mission of the E-3A AWACS and discussed benefits associated with participation in the NATO AWACS programme and membership in the multinational E-3A Component located at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen in Germany.

On 19 September, another E-3A AWACS from Geilenkirchen arrived in Ostrava, Czech Republic for participation in the NATO Day airshow on 20 September.  The NATO AWACS proved to be a huge hit with spectators, who waited in long lines and braved inclement weather for a chance to see the E-3A, with its distinctive rotodome and multiple radar consoles. Crewmembers greeted visitors onboard the aircraft and provided information about the aircraft, the NATO AWACS mission and tasks performed by various crew positions.  Adults and children alike were interested to see both technical aspects of the E-3A as well as the unique multinational composition of the NATO AWACS crew.  During the aircraft walkthrough, many visitors paused to take pictures of AWACS crewmembers because of the variety of nationalities represented, as demonstrated by the different combinations of national flags and E-3A Component patches on their uniforms.

"This visit to the Czech Republic was great way to engage with both government officials and the Czech public about the NATO AWACS mission and the capabilities that the E-3A aircraft and crews provide to the Alliance," said Maj. Gen. Steven Schmidt, E-3A Component commander. "The multinational composition of our Component is one of our greatest strengths and is one reason we have achieved more than 25 years of mission success.  We encourage additional NATO nations, such as the Czech Republic, to join with us and create even more diversity, strength and capability for the future."

The AWACS visit to the Czech Republic was a unique opportunity to highlight the success of the 15 nation NATO AWACS programme and the benefits of membership in the multinational E-3A Component, the one and only multinational military flying unit in the world.  The visit also showed that among Czech government officials and the general public alike, there is a very high level of interest in NATO AWACS and the NATO Alliance as a whole.  From the welcoming remarks by Czech Minister of Defence in Prague to the smiling faces of parents and children in Ostrava, the visit demonstrated there is widespread understanding and appreciation that increased multinational cooperation is the key to enhancing collective security and increasing prosperity in the future for all.