By Clark Pierce, Naval Air Station Jacksonville Public Affairs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (NNS) -- A NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force E-3 aircraft, operating from Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., took part in the USS Kearsarge (LHD 3) Amphibious Ready Group composite training unit exercise (COMPTUEX) July 7-28.
The aircraft is one of 17 Boeing NATO E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft deployed from the unit's main base at Geilenkirchen, Germany.
"Working with naval forces is different than operating with army and air force commands. Participating in COMPTUEX allows us to improve our maritime operational readiness," said Belgian Air Force Maj. Georges Deneffee, a deployment commander who is on assignment to NATO.
Sixteen nations, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom and United States, provide personnel to the NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force.
"We normally operate our E-3 at an altitude of 30,000 feet, where we continuously monitor the airspace within a radius of 250 miles of the aircraft. We exchange information with ground- and sea-based commanders to provide information on both low-flying and high-altitude aircraft operating in a particular territory. Our radar also operates in a maritime mode, which allows us to detect and track ships," said Deneffee.
Intelligence Specialist 1st Class Marcus Fielder is assigned to the E-3 as an air controller of fighter aircraft.
"The NATO E-3 is much larger than the carrier-based Navy E-2 Hawkeye AWACS aircraft, which operates with a crew of five. The NATO E-3 flies with 12 mission crew and four flight crew. A new twist in this COMPTUEX is the addition of seven Royal Navy ships. That means we're supporting a more challenging level of combined operations," said Fielder.
Prior to his three-year tour with NATO Airborne Early Warning and Command Force, Fielder was assigned to Fleet Area Control and Surveillance Facility in Jacksonville, Fla.
"I'm fairly new to the crew and work as a communications technician responsible for radio and digital data link equipment. We fly the same E-3 platform as the U.S. Air Force, but that's where the comparison ends. This NATO E-3 features the latest computerized mission equipment, and it's all being put to the test by the Kearsarge COMPTUEX. The high heat and humidity at NAS Jax is another good test of our new equipment," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jeremy Runyon. "This aircrew represents military services from 16 NATO member nations, so it becomes an interesting multicultural experience for Airmen and Sailors."
Deneffee added, "Our crew really enjoys operating from NAS Jacksonville and getting to see various slices of America. When time permitted, we toured Jax Beach, Cape Kennedy and Central Florida. And some crewmen tested their golf skills at many of the great courses in Northeast Florida."
A news release from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), deployed aboard Kearsarge, said a key element of COMPTUEX was reconnaissance, communication and close-air support provided by joint tactical air controllers on the ground and aboard aircraft assets such as NATO AWACS.
"The Kearsarge Amphibious Ready Group and 26th MEU have a firm grasp on our communications and mission procedures, which was a major objective for this exercise. COMPTUEX was extremely productive and has set us up well for the certification exercise ahead," said 26th MEU Executive Officer Marine Corps Lt. Col. Mike Starling.