November 3, Headquarters Allied Air Command Ramstein (Germany) organizes the 7th Baltic Region Training Event (BRTE VII) hosted by the Lithuanian Air Force's Šiauliai Airbase. The event demonstrates NATO commitments to collective defence, and solidarity and trust among the allies.
BRTE VII to take place in the airspace above Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia will give a great opportunity to see US transport aircrafts Hercules C-130J which will be used to train tactical off-load, scramble of F-15C Eagle fighter-jets currently conducting NATO Baltic Air-policing mission, and landing of NATO's Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft Boeing 707 at LAF Šiauliai Airbase. AWACS is an airborne radar called „NATO's eyes in the sky" capable of detecting aircrafts at a 400 km radius. NATO possesses 17 such aircrafts ready to provide all the necessary information in the most dangerous situations and to control own aircrafts.
During the training event the deployed aircrafts will maintain radio contact with airspace control and command facilities in Uedem, Germany, the Joint Command and Reporting Centre in Karmėlava (Lithuania), and F-15C Eagle fighters deployed in Šiauliai Airbase on the Baltic Air-policing mission.
On November 3 two Hercules C-130J will arrive at Šiauliai to conduct twofold tasks. The first aircraft will carry out tactical discharge in Šiauliai Airbase. „Tactical discharge is to be implemented in any weather conditions in any kind of terrain in order to immediately distribute humanitarian aid for people or unload cargo vital for other types of tasks", said staff officer of NATO's Ramstein Air Base Maj Enrique Hemendez-Medel in charge of the exercise. According to the Major, aircraft Hercules C-130J is capable of landing on short and unprepared runways, unload engines-on, and takeoff without delay. The same process may be repeated immediately by another aircraft.
The second Hercules C-130 will simulate a situation of lost radio connection with civilian air traffic control systems.
According to the scenario, Joint Control and Reporting Centre in Karmėlava will repart the incident to the Joint Air Operations Centre in Uedem (Germany) which will then authorize US fighters F-15C on the Baltic Air-policing mission stationed in Šiauliai Airbase to scramble and visually check out situation in the air. During the exercise AWACS will maintain radio connection with the Joint Control and Reporting Centre in Karmėlava and fighter-jets to enable information exchange.
"BRTE VII demonstrates that NATO trains as it operates", said Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations of the Lithuanian Air Force Maj Rolandas Greibus. According to the Major, all the personnel involved in the exercise have a vital role. Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania appreciates NATO solidarity and the opportunity to joint common effort by allocating personnel to NATO's Integrated Air Defence System.
NATO Air Command Ramstein plans and conducts exercises to enhance interoperability, control and command of airspace surveillance and control, air policing and other capabilities deployed in the Baltic Region. This NATO programme is tailored to assist Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, and neighbouring NATO states to improve interoperability and integration of national air forces according to valid NATO standards, as well as to demonstrate solidarity of the allies with the Baltic States. Once initiated as exercises for personnel on the Baltic Air-policing mission, later BRTE became wide-spectrum air force events training various aspects of air operations.
NOTE for media: media representatives are invited to take part in the event at Šiauliai Airbase on November 3 (9.00-14.00 hrs). Media opportunity to interview participants, NATO commanders and aircrews, take photo and video footage of land operations will be provided. A press conference will be held. However, no opportunity will be given to observe aircraft on airborne tasks.
Media representatives should fill in media registration form (preferably in English) (find in Lithuanian version) and send to Capt Agnė Liberė agne.libere@mil.lt. (LAF Airbase) before Monday, November 1. More detail will be provided after confirmation of attendance.
Transport of the Ministry of National Defence will be available from Vilnius to LAF Šiauliai Airbase (and back) on November 3. Everyone willing to use the availability should inform Public Relations Department of the Ministry of National Defence ([email protected] or 00370 5 273 5519, 00370 5 273 5517, cell phone 00370 687 90 765, Asta Galdikaitė) before November 2. Number of seats is limited.
Alternation regarding the exercise schedule may be imposed in relation to unexpected circumstances. Find information regarding possible alterations at www.airn.nato.int. or at:
NATO Air Command Headquarters Ramstein http://www.airn.nato.int/.
Information in greater detail at: http://www.airn.nato.int/
or at ( forPublic Relations contacts) airn.pao@airn.nato.int .
After the exercise information will be available at: http://www.airn.nato.int/.
Pictures: AWACS http://www.e3a.nato.int/
