[MilCom] Last AWACS return home from Afghanistan

[ric5]

Last AWACS return home from Afghanistan

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organization
25 Sep. 2014 16:32



1,240 missions and 12,240 flying hours later the AWACS fleet is finally
home. On Thursday, 25 September the last AWACS returned to its home base in
Geilenkirchen, Germany from Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. 
NATO has determined that AWACS aircraft will not be required for the
Resolute Support Mission that stands-up on 1 January 2015 as the new mission
will focus on train, advise and assist. The overall impact for the future
will be minimal, as air traffic control for military aircraft over Afghan
airspace will be managed by the Control and Reporting Centre (CRC) in Al
Udeid, Qatar, coordinated with the responsible civilian air traffic
authorities.
"The men and women who have conducted this vital mission since January 2011
have made a tremendous difference to our forces in Afghanistan," said
Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Philip M. Breedlove. "They provided
the 'eyes in the sky' for countless troops who have relied upon them for
critical information supporting thousands of missions."
In Afghanistan the NATO Airborne Early Warning & Control Force (NAEW&CF)
performed unique and valuable roles for the Alliance by conducting air
surveillance, tactical battle management functions such as support and
control of friendly aircraft involved in offensive and defensive counter air
operations, close air support, battlefield air interdiction, combat search
and rescue, reconnaissance, and tactical air transport.
"I want to congratulate the entire NATO E-3A Component on over 3 years of
sustained operations in Afghanistan," said Major General Andrew Mueller,
NATO E-3A Component Commander. "You did something never imagined by those
who created the E-3A Component over 35 years ago, demonstrating that the
E-3A Component remains a ready, reliable and relevant capability for NATO
Commanders today," he said.


Ric Watha NC North of KILM