NATO deploys early warning aircraft to NAS Jax

This exercise, called Tailored Ship Training Assessment (TSTA), includes two NAS Jacksonville based aircraft squadrons; the HS-15 "Red Lions," flying the SH-60 Seahawk helicopter and the VS-22 "Checkmates," who fly the S-3 Viking. USS Farragut (DDG-99), USS Boone (FFG-28) and staff from Destroyer Squadron 40 from NS Mayport are also part of the strike group participating in the exercise.

In addition to the AWACS aircraft, 75 crewmembers and support personnel representing 12 different NATO nations (U.S., Norway, Italy, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Greece, the Netherlands, Turkey and Portugal) are deployed to NAS Jacksonville for the training.

The E-3A component, the only multinational military flying unit in the world, is supporting military operations off the coast of Florida by serving as the "eyes in the sky" for the TSTA. The AWACS uses its unique radar system to conduct air surveillance and control flights to provide a complete "air picture" to participating Air Force and Navy aircraft, as well as Navy ships and ground radar stations. Among the training missions supported by the AWACS are maritime interdiction, close air support and combat search and rescue training.

The AWACS deployment to NAS Jacksonville also represents the last deployment of a Legacy AWACS aircraft to the U.S. By the end of 2008, all 17 E-3A component AWACS will be upgraded to have the most modern airborne early warning and control features including enhanced multi-sensor integration and new radar consoles with improved capabilities.

The E-3A component is a key element of the NATO response force and has deployed AWACS and cargo aircraft around the world in support of world leadership events and humanitarian operations for Hurricane Katrina and Pakistan earthquake relief. The component also sent five to seven AWACS aircraft to the U.S. from October 2001 to April 2002 in response to the 9-11 terror attacks.