NATO AWACS provides ‘eyes in the sky’ during Red Flag 21-2 at Nellis

Published March 17, 2021

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. –

Service members from seven NATO member nations are at Nellis, supporting Red Flag 21-2 to test and sharpen their abilities in countering threats while building a cohesive protocol for real-world events.

“For decades, Red Flag has been the world’s premier air combat training environment,” said Maj. Stephen Wahnon, Tactical Director and NATO AWACS Red Flag Detachment commander.

The detachment operates a Boeing 707 derived E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft equipped with a state-of-the-art long-range radar, covering a surveillance area of more than 120,000 square miles, which is roughly the size of Poland.

“Every single sortie our unit has flown has provided a tough tactical problem to solve in the mission planning process, and the Aggressors have replicated a formidable adversary during the execution,” said Wahnon. “Each of these challenges provides an opportunity to learn and grow as tactical operators through the debrief process.”

NATO’s mission is to protect the peace and freedom of all its participating nations and provide the possibility to act united when needed.

“We supply coordination and communication between the flying elements,” said German Air Force Capt. Christoph “Zulu” Zurman, a pilot assigned to Flying Squadron 1. “We supply passive detection and radar. Lastly, we supply the needed knowledge of Airborne Early Warning (AEW), so aircrews can learn how to utilize our abilities to the greatest extent, getting a more synchronized and cooperative team across joint operations.”

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https://www.nellis.af.mil/News/Article/2540282/nato-awacs-provides-eyes-in-the-sky-during-red-flag-21-2-at-nellis/

><Anon snapped photo Friday afternoon