10 October 2001
Text: NATO Sends 5 AWACS Aircraft to U.S. for Homeland Defense
(Planes a sign of NATO decision to demonstrate resolve) (340)
NATO began deployment October 9 of five Airborne Warning and Control
Systems (AWACS) airplanes from Europe to the United States.
The aircraft will be based at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma, where
the U.S. AWACS fleet is based. The deployment is based on a NATO
decision to provide a presence and demonstrate resolve in the face of
the terrorist attacks of September 11th in New York, Washington and
Pennsylvania.
The text of the Defense Department news release follows:
(begin text)
United States Department of Defense
October 9, 2001
NATO AWACS AIRCRAFT DEPLOY TO THE U.S.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) today began deploying
five of its Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS) aircraft from
Europe to the United States. While deployed here the aircraft will
operate with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) in
support of Operation Noble Eagle, helping to defend the continental
United States in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist
attacks.
The United States asked NATO to deploy the AWACS aircraft to assist in
the NORAD mission, to allow other aircraft of this type to deploy
elsewhere, and to lower the operational tempo of this high-demand
aircraft.
The NATO aircraft are flying in from Geilenkirchen, Germany, and will
be based at Tinker AFB, Okla., home of the U.S. Air Force AWACS fleet.
The NATO aircraft will be escorted by a NATO trainer cargo aircraft, a
Boeing 707 used to transport detachment personnel and their equipment.
The deployment grows out of a decision to provide a NATO presence and
demonstrate resolve. In the past, NATO has used AWACS in Bosnia and
the Balkans to assist in air operations. More information on NATO
AWACS is available on line at http://www.e3a.nato.int/:
http://www.e3a.nato.int/
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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