Home  /  Media  /  News  /  2024  /  NATO AWACS Maintains Vigilance; Trains With New Allies

RYGGE, Norway - The NATO E-3A Component has successfully completed an extensive three-week deployment of the NATO AWACS, training alongside our Allies, operating from Rygge airbase in Norway.  This was an invaluable opportunity to provide our high-readiness crews with unique opportunities to test, evaluate and validate our command and control capabilities.  It has proven to be an excellent opportunity to refine the AWACS readiness, as part of wider NATO joint vigilance operations. 

During the deployment, NATO AWACS trained with naval assets and other air forces from various NATO nations, showcasing NATO’s readiness, strength and interoperability with our Allies.  With our battle-proven AWACS capabilities, the NATO alliance is able to maintain information superiority in an increasingly complex environment. 

“The strategic role of the NATO E-3A sits at the heart of NATO force projection; this capability integrates airpower from across the Alliance and provides both surveillance and Command and Control functions that are imperative to defending our airspace.  By operating out of Deployed Operating Bases, such as Rygge or elsewhere at short-notice, we showcase our determined ambition to maintain our vigilance and readiness to defend the Alliance”, said Air Commodore Andrew Turk, NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force Chief of Staff and Deputy Commander. 

NATO AWACS deployed to Rygge airbase in Norway. Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Sarver. 

NATO AWACS trained with naval assets and other air forces from various NATO nations during the deployment to Rygge, Norway. Photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Sarver. 

The E-3A AWACS is referred to as NATO’s ultimate ‘Eye in the Sky’. As one of the few military assets both owned and operated by NATO, the AWACS mission is to perform all surveillance and battle-management tasks on behalf of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe. Such deployments to integrate into joint missions, demonstrate our flexibility in being able to operate anywhere, anytime, to safeguard the Alliance.

NATO is a defensive organisation who maintains transparency about the activities that are executed. The information gathered during NATO AWACS flights gives NATO decision-makers valuable insight to enhance our vigilance in the defence of the Alliance.

NATO AWACS has flown enhanced Vigilance Activities missions regularly along the borders of Allied Territory to secure NATO’s eastern flank. These missions have been part of NATO’s operations since 2014.