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US, NATO participate in Baltic Region Training Event
Posted 11/8/2010
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11/8/2010 - RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- U.S. Air Forces in Europe officials participated in a one-day Baltic Region Training Event Nov. 3 at Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania.
BRTE is an advanced, routine training concept to enhance interoperability, build capability and continue air integration of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. It's designed to sharpen NATO-wide standards in air policing and to hone air capabilities.
The events are open to partner countries to participate. This is the seventh training event under the Baltic Air Policing umbrella.
"The USAFE commitment to the air policing mission in the Baltic States through BRTE enhances our building partnership capability with participating nations," said Gen. Roger A. Brady, the U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Allied Air Command Ramstein commander. "NATO members, including USAFE assets, provide their jets, pilots and supporting personnel on a rotational basis to the NATO air policing mission in the Baltic States, which do not possess air policing capabilities."
General Brady agreed to conduct the training event at the request of Baltic region military representatives, on behalf of Headquarters Allied Air Command Ramstein to demonstrate alliance cohesion and reassurance at Siauliai AB.
"NATO reaffirms and reassures its commitment to the air sovereignty of member nations and is the most visible day-to-day reminder of alliance solidarity," General Brady said. "This training event focuses on enhancing air interoperability among NATO air forces."
The various airborne assets participating in the training event interacted with NATO air command and control facilities in Uedem, Germany, and Karmelava, Lithuania.
Airmen from the 37th Airlift Squadron at Ramstein AB also conducted a tactical offload at Siauliai AB, using C-130J Super Hercules aircraft.
"The tactical offload is an all-weather, all-terrain method to get humanitarian or mission-essential goods immediately to the people on the ground," said Maj. Enrique Hernandez-Medel, a BRTE VII project officer at NATO air headquarters at Ramstein AB. "The C-130s can land on a short unimproved runway, offload supplies with the engines running and take off again. Another aircraft can then follow to do the next offload."
Additionally, a C-130J simulated a loss of contact with civilian air traffic control agencies.
The jointly-operated Control and Reporting Centre at Karmelava reported the incident to the Combined Air Operations Centre Uedem, which then ordered the F-15C Eagle Quick Reaction Alert (Intercept) at Siauliai AB to launch and check what was going on in the air. During the entire event, NATO E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System crews maintained radio links to the Control and Reporting Centre and the fighters for exchange of information.
"Everyone has a vital role to play in this," said Lithuanian air force Maj. Rolandas Greibus, the Lithuanian air force staff chief of operations planning. "Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania appreciate that they benefit from the alliance solidarity, and we are proud to return our share to the joint effort by the staff we send to man the NATO Integrated Air Defense System."
"The mix of NATO member and USAFE air assets plus the integration of the NATO Airborne Early Warning aircraft is NATO at its best," General Brady said. "Everyone is training as they operate."
(Courtesy of U.S. Air Forces in Europe) |
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