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20 November 1997

TEXT: DEFENSE DEPARTMENT UPDATE ON DEPLOYMENTS TO THE GULF

(Air Expeditionary Force deploying to Bahrain) (340)
Washington -- The following release on the deployment of an Air
Expeditionary Force to Bahrain was issued by the Department of Defense
on November 20:
At the request of the commander in chief, U.S. Central Command, the
Secretary of Defense has directed the deployment of an Air
Expeditionary Force to Bahrain. This is the same Air Expeditionary
Force previously approved and announced Tuesday for deployment to the
Arabian Gulf.
Once constituted in theater, the Air Expeditionary Force will be
designated the 347th Air Expeditionary Wing (Provisional) (AEW(P)).
The 347th Air Expeditionary Wing (Provisional) from Moody Air Force
Base, Ga., will consist of 30 F-15 and F-16 aircraft, two B-1 bombers
and four KC-135R tankers that will deploy to Bahrain over the weekend.
These assets include:
   -- 12 F-15Cs from Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.
   -- 12 F-16Cs from Moody Air Force Base, Ga.
   -- 6 F-16C/Js from Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.
   -- 2 B-1s from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.
   -- 4 KC-135Rs from Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash.
In addition, elements of a Patriot Battery from the 3rd Battalion,
43rd Air Defense Artillery Regiment, from Fort Bliss, Texas, are being
sent to Bahrain to provide ground air defense for the AEW(P).
This will be the sixth Air Expeditionary Force deployed by the U.S.
Air Force to the region since the operational concept of the AEF was
developed in 1995. Earlier deployments were to Bahrain (Oct-Dec 1995
and Sep-Oct 1996); Jordan (Apr-Jun 1996); and Qatar (Jun-Aug 1996 and
Feb-May 1997). An AEF is a force package designed to deploy rapidly
with about 30 aircraft and 1,000 personnel and be ready to commence
air combat operations within 48 hours of deployment notification.
This deployment is intended to further augment existing forces in the
area with additional air power and flexibility. This deployment is
being conducted under the conditions of the Defense Cooperation
Agreement between the United States and the government of Bahrain.