NATO AIR EXERCISES

Flight Journal, Feb 2004 by Taurino, Giovanni

BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 5 AND 18, 2003, NATO Air Meet '03 (NAM 03) took place in Poland. Traditionally conducted by Headquarters Allied Air Forces North, Ramstein, Germany, this time, participating aircraft operated from Poznan and Powidz Air Bases in Poland and included air forces from Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States.

NAM 03 is designed to exercise the air forces of participating nations in tactical air operations. It focuses on practicing and evaluating tactics for the use of composite air operations (COMAO) and emphasizes the suppression of enemy air defenses and electronic warfare. The exercise area was limited to Poland and involved more than 90 different aircraft, including tanker and airborne early-warning aircraft and ground-based air-defense systems. Missions were flown only during the daytime, and in selected areas within the exercise area, the aircraft flew at only 350 feet above ground level.

More than 80 combat and 20 support aircraft (AAR, EW and AEW) and personnel from 15 nations were involved. The exercise was designed to maximize the exchange of ideas and to promote mutual understanding, confidence and cooperation between participating air forces.

In addition to flying missions, the NATO personnel participate in Aircraft Cross Servicing (ACS). During NAM '03, 13 nations and 72 personnel took part in ACS training. This was the third time that technicians from several nations learned together how to deploy, operate and recover other nations' combat aircraft for operational missions.

-Giovanni Taurino