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NATO AIR FORCES TRAIN IN HUNGARY

Cooperative Chance '96 was the first exercise of NATO air forces in a former Eastern Block country. The exercise was to show how flying units of NATO and the Partnership for Peace nations can work together in the scope of disaster relief operations. Getting to know more about the mutual command, organization, and communication structures had an even higher priority than the actual rescue, transport, and supply operations of the exercise. Again, this exercise revealed that the still lacking command of the English language in the area of the former Warsaw Pact countries, impairs radio communications and mission briefings. There is an imperative need for improvement in this area.

The exercise scenario given was that an earthquake had hit the area north of the Plattensee. The disaster could not be handled with the country's own means anymore and "Bigland" called for help from the United Nations, especially since it was threatened by hostilities from the neighbouring country.

Along with the military, UNO and some non-governmental relief organizations took part in the exercise to maintain a most realistic scenario. The actual (fictional) task came from the Department of Humanitarian Affairs of the UNO in Geneva. NATO's Civil Emergency Planning Directorate (CEPD) took over the control of the operations, while NATO HQ AIRCENT in Ramstein was responsible for coordinating all air operations.

For this purpose, a multi-national Air Headquarters (MNAHQ) was set up for the first time which was located at the Szolnok airport during the five-day exercise. Along with officers form eight NATO states, Austria, Bulgaria, Czechia, Poland, Rumania, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Hungary were represented. Further eight countries sent exercise observers.

According to the exercise plan, Belgian F-16s, equipped with reconnaissance pods, allowed a damage assessment. At the same time, a no-fly zone was established south of the Plattensee to put the aggressive neighbour in its place.

The air-policing missions, often flown in mixed formations of one F-16 and one MiG-29, were flown from the neighbouring air base in Kecskemet. An E-3A AWACS from Geilenkirchen was responsible for area surveillance and control of the flight movements.

The actual relief missions were flown by SAR helicopters, which carried first reconnaissance and rescue teams into the disaster area and evacuated injured people. Transport aircraft dropped off different teams of specialists with parachutes.

Meanwhile, the Rumanian Antonov An-30 and the Austrian PC-6 generated detailed aerial photographs as basis for further operations. After evaluating these shots, an extensive airborne supply operation was started.

A large demonstration in Szolnok, in presence of NATO Secretary General, Javier Solana, and Commander-in-Chief, General George Joulwan, was the highlight and finish of Cooperative Chance '96. It shows how important the alliance takes the Partnership for Peace. For Hungary, as host, it meant another step towards the NATO membership which the country is striving for.

From page 41 of FLUG REVUE 10/96